Jeepers: Rehabilitation of a Severe SDFT Tear

Jeepers is a 22-year-old Thoroughbred Cross gelding who sustained a severe injury to his superficial digital flexor tendon.   He was brought to VRSVA two weeks after the initial injury, at which time, the tendon was still extremely hot, swollen and painful.  He had a support bandage in place and became much more uncomfortable if this was removed for even a short period of time.

The first goal for Jeepers was to calm the severe inflammation and decrease swelling.  He was treated with daily ice boots and ice cup tendon therapy, the Game Ready system, nightly poultice wraps and daily wraps with Surpass.  He was kept in support bandages and on stall rest at all other times.  He was able to walk only a short distance to graze twice daily.

Once the inflammation had calmed sufficiently, Jeepers’ SDFT was injected with PRP under ultrasound guidance.   A second injection was performed several weeks later.  He was also treated with Class IV laser therapy, frictional massage and shoeing changes to support the tendon.

A recheck ultrasound revealed improvement of much of the SDFT.  A persistent injury was identified in the portion of the tendon above the carpus along with inflammation of the carpal sheath.   The tendon was injected in this region with stem cells and the carpal sheath was drained and injected with PRP.   

Jeepers’ comfort gradually improved and he was finally able to begin loading his tendon.  He began hand walking in increasing increments and eventually began walking over poles and incorporating gentle hills to challenge his tendon.   Over several weeks, he worked up to walk work under saddle and then, finally, turnout.   After six long months, Jeepers was finally able to return home to his owner, happy, comfortable and not only pasture sound, but able to walk under saddle!