Musculoskeletal disease and injury, now and in the future. Part 2: Tendon and ligament injuries.

Authors: Clegg P D

Journal: Equine veterinary journal

DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00563.x PubMed: 22486548Log in to save

Summary

# Editorial Summary: Musculoskeletal Disease and Injury in Horses – Tendon and Ligament Focus Tendon and ligament injuries represent a persistent and costly problem in Thoroughbred racing, consistently ranking among the leading causes of career-ending orthopaedic damage and premature retirement. Clegg's 2012 review synthesises a decade of UK research funded by the Horserace Betting Levy Board, examining the epidemiology, biological mechanisms, and therapeutic approaches to these injuries in detail. The analysis reveals that whilst significant progress has been made in understanding tendon and ligament pathophysiology—including improved imaging, recognition of risk factors, and emerging regenerative therapies—injury rates remain stubbornly high, suggesting that translating mechanistic knowledge into clinical prevention remains challenging. For equine practitioners, this work underscores the importance of evidence-based intervention strategies (such as appropriate rehabilitation protocols and conditioning regimens) whilst highlighting the limitations of current therapeutic options and the need for continued research into biological repair mechanisms. Understanding both the epidemiological trends and biological basis of these injuries is essential for developing more effective prevention and treatment strategies that can genuinely reduce welfare compromise and economic loss in racing populations.

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Practical Takeaways

•Understanding tendon and ligament injury epidemiology and biology is critical for developing prevention and treatment strategies in racing Thoroughbreds
•Recent research investments indicate emerging therapies and approaches that practitioners should monitor for potential clinical application
•Early identification and management of at-risk horses may help reduce catastrophic injuries and premature retirement

Key Findings

•Tendon and ligament injuries remain among the most frequent causes of orthopaedic injury and early retirement in Thoroughbred racehorses
•The Horserace Betting Levy Board has substantially funded research into tendon epidemiology, biology, and therapeutic approaches over the past decade
•Research efforts aim to reduce both welfare consequences and economic losses associated with these injuries in racing populations

Conditions Studied

tendon injuriesligament injuriessuperficial digital flexor tendon (sdft) lesionsdeep digital flexor tendon (ddft) lesionssuspensory ligament injuries

Related References

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Clegg P D(2011)Equine veterinary journal

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