Palmar annular ligament desmitis in horses: retrospective study between desmotomy and desmectomy techniques

Escodro, Pierre Barnabe; Lopes, Priscila Faria Rosa; Bruhn, Fabio Raphael Pascoti

doi:2013.53.4.257

Korean J Vet Res > Volume 53(4); 2013 > Article

Brief Communication

Korean Journal of Veterinary Research 2013;53(4):257-261.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14405/kjvr.2013.53.4.257 Published online December 24, 2013.

Palmar annular ligament desmitis in horses: retrospective study between desmotomy and desmectomy techniques

Pierre Barnabe Escodro¹, Priscila Faria Rosa Lopes², Fabio Raphael Pascoti Bruhn²

¹Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Alagoas, UFAL
²Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Lavras, UFAL

Abstract

This study evaluated two different surgical techniques for the treatment of palmar annular ligament desmitis (PAL) in horses. The group 1 (G1) consisted of 11 Thoroughbred submitted to desmotomy, and G2 of 22 horses that underwent PAL desmectomy. There was no statistically significant difference between mean palmar annular ligament thickness in both groups evaluated (p = 0.800). In this study, the horses of G1 had 12 times more chance to return to physical activity, when compared to animals of G2 (p = 0.033; O.R. = 12.0; C.I.95% = 1,142 - 126,122). Desmectomy was more efficient in promoting the resolution of the injury and the return to sports activity.

Key Words: forelimb, equine diseases, lameness, ligament, surgical procedures