Functional restoration of the long digital extensor tendon in horses after parcial tenectomy: gross, histopathologycal and ultrasonographic evaluation

Abstract

The objective of this work was to study the macroscopic, ultrasonographic and histopathologic aspects from the newly formed cicatricial tissue at the site of the partial resection of the long digital extensor tendon in 10 equines at the moment of functional restoration of the limb with the animal in walk locomotion. The macroscopic exam was performed every 48 hours, the planimetric mensuration every 10 days, the ultrasonographic exam every 15 days and the histopathologyc exam at the end of the study. The wounds showed granulation tissue in retraction, without total lesion epithelization, and the aspects ultrasonographics revealed wound healing with newly formed tissues with variable density and high neovascularization without tendon structural reorganization. The histopathology showed newly formed vascularized tissue, with leukocytic infiltrate and collagenous deposition without full epithelization. The cicatrization tissue formed in the resection region of the tendon, immature and without the structural organization of the normal tendon, showed to be able to functional restoration of the operated limb.Objetivou-se estudar os aspectos macroscópicos, ultra-sonográficos e histopatológicos do tecido neoformado no local da ressecção parcial do tendão extensor digital longo em 10 eqüinos, no momento do restabelecimento funcional do membro com o animal em locomoção à passo. O exame macroscópico foi realizado a cada 48 horas, o planimétrico das feridas a cada 10 dias, o ultra-sonográfico a cada 15 dias e o histopatológico no final do experimento. As feridas mostraram tecido de granulação em retração e exuberante, sem epitelização total, com aspectos ultra-sonográficos desorganizados diferentes do tendão íntegro e os exames histopatológicos revelaram tecido cicatricial em formação. O restabelecimento funcional médio foi de 45,9 dias, com o tecido neoformado na região da tenectomia permitindo o restabelecimento funcional do membro operado