How to Use a Fetlock Support Brace to Manage Lacerations of Equine Flexor Tendons

1. Introduction
Equine flexor tendon lacerations are a relatively common injury in the horse.^1–5 The prognosis of flexor tendon lacerations in the horse varies from poor to good with reports of 45%,⁶ 59%,³ and 78%¹ of survival. Previously reported treatment options consist of a period of external coaptation (cast or splint bandage) with or without tenorrhaphy for an extended period of time, usually for a period of 60 –90 days,⁵ followed by a gradual return to weight bearing.⁷ Casting or splinting a limb often requires general anesthesia both for the initial placement as well as periodic cast changes, and more expense is incurred when additional hospitalization and casting materials are necessary. In addition, lower limb casts are often plagued with complications that many owners are not familiar with or able to recognize, which results in extended periods of hospitalization. Application of the fetlock support brace can be performed shortly after presentation, and the horse may be discharged within a few days of application to continue convalescence at home. Therefore, similar results as with more traditional therapeutic protocols of treatment of flexor tendon lacerations are obtained without incurring the expense of hospitalization. [...]