Diagnóstico clínico e abordagem cirúrgica de deformidade flexural adquirida em equino errante: relato de caso

Abstract

The curricular internship was carried out at the Large Animal Veterinary Hospital (HVET/UnB) of University of Brasília, focusing mainly on equine medicine and surgery. During the internship period, activities related to medical and surgical clinics, physical examinations, imaging exams, wound management, complementary therapies, nasogastric intubation, and several surgical procedures were performed. The routine provided extensive practical experience in equine orthopedics, hospital management, and postoperative care. Among the most frequent conditions observed were musculoskeletal and digestive disorders, especially orthopedic diseases and colic syndromes in horses. The case report describes a stray, non-castrated male equine, approximately two years old, diagnosed with bilateral grade II acquired flexural deformity in the thoracic limbs. The animal showed locomotion difficulty, severe pain, lumbar kyphosis, and radiographic changes compatible with chronic overload of tendinous and articular structures. Diagnosis was established through clinical examination, palpation, and radiographic evaluation. Treatment included analgesic and anti-inflammatory therapy, surgical intervention consisting of desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon and tenotomy of the superficial digital flexor tendon, followed by intensive postoperative management with bandaging, PVC splint immobilization, corrective hoof trimming, and physiotherapy. Clinical evolution was satisfactory, with improvement in limb alignment, pain reduction, and progressive recovery of locomotion. The case demonstrated the importance of combining surgery, orthopedic management, analgesia, and physiotherapy in the recovery of acquired flexural deformities in equines, especially in stray animals with no known clinical history.