Severed Extensor Tendon

[angelam643]

Two weeks ago, my 2 yr. old completely severed his Left Hind Extensor Tendon just above (2-3") the fetlock.

We caught him right away and the vet stitched it back up. There was no joint infection and the stitches come out in a week.

My vet is recommending that after the stitches come out - that we split the leg with PVC pipe for months(??).

I have also heard of people using a shoe with a toe extension on it to prevent the joint from over-flexing.

Just wondering if anyone has had experience with this kind of injury. Any thoughts on what might decrease the recovery time or improve the end result, would be appreciated.

[showmom]

Hi I read your post and I wanted to know how your horse is doing? my filly just severed her extensor tendon last week and at first the vet told me to put her down as in put her to sleep! I said NO and had the leg s***ched and wrapped in three bandages as it's a support bandage as well to stop the leg from knuckling over. I wanted to know how your horse is as I am so worried about my filly. thanks:confused:

[ktqh]

Never posted before so I hope I'm doing this right. My stud severed in half his superficial and deep flexor tendon in his left back leg when he was 3 years old. We flew in a surgeon, back then not everyone did this surgery. He was put in a cast for 3 months and then put on a shoe that made him stand on his toe and could be dropped 1/4 inch per month until his entire foot was back on the ground. This process went on for almost a year in which no additional excercise except what he wanted to do was allowed. I put him in a 20x24 stall I built for him for his recovery. Done correctly these horses can and will recover. That was 16 years ago, my stud is 19 this year. I only bred him to 3 of my own mares as a 4 yr old to see how the leg was going to hold up under the pressure of breeding live. He covered all 3 and all conceived. He breeds live to this day and had a 100 percent conception rate again this year as a 19 year old. Very scary time for me so I know what you're going through but they've made such progress in this area since his injury I know you will get through this as I did.