Symmetrical lupoid onychodystrophy in a crossbred pointer dog: long-term observations

Most of the reports of the management of chronic tenosynovitis in horses have been restricted to the sheaths of the digital flexor tendon (Honnas and others 1991, Schneider and others 1992a, b). The prognosis for septic extensor tenosynovitis appears to be more favourable than for flexor tenosynovitis (Honnas and others 1991, Schneider and others 1992a, b, Platt and Wright 1997) The difference may be because the extensor tendons are not weight-supporting, and the resulting adhesions and/or decreased mechanical strength are therefore not as critical to the performance of the horse as lacerations of the flexor tendons (Belknap and others 1993). A recent report suggests that an excellent prognosis can be given for chronic carpal extensor tenosynovitis after aggressive open surgical exploration and synovectomy followed by primary closure (Platt and Wright 1997). In the present case, the severity and chronic nature of the sepsis suggested that the most effective course of action was complete surgical resection rather than synovectomy and debridement. None of the previous reports on the management of carpal extensor tenosynovitis (Wallace 1972, Mason 1977, Platt and Wright 1997) have suggested the complete surgical resection of the tendon as a possible treatment. In this case the procedure appeared to have a good outcome, in spite of the loss of function of the extensor tendon being added to the problem of resolving the sepsis.