A review of the most common tendon sheath injuries in horses

Tendon sheath is a connective tissue that main function is to protect the tendon in the areas that are most vulnerable to damage. One of the relatively common causes of lameness and abnormalities in the limb of horses is tendon sheath damage. Injuries to the digital tendon sheath, tarsus, and carp are more common than tendon sheaths in other parts of the limbs. Lameness and swelling at the site of the lesion are common clinical findings in many tendon sheath injuries. Primary diagnosis of tendon sheath inflammation is possible with the help of animal history and clinical signs. The use of diagnostic tools, especially diagnostic imaging, is very useful for definitive diagnosis and identifying the primary cause of the disorders or damage to the surrounding tissues. Complete treatment should be done after identifying the underlying cause of sheath inflammation, although treatments such as rest, the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, and cold therapy are effective in reducing inflammation and improving clinical signs.