Long Digital Extensor test

[dmpaster]

I saw a 6 yr old Beagle that does agility today for occasionally hopping on her R hind limb, usually but not always when she decelerates. Owner reports she has done this since she got her 18 months ago.
I could not luxate the patella, or find any tenderness around the patella. Her SI joints seem Ok. She did seem to sink a little when I slowly slid back her L hind limb to check motor control and timing, so I sent her home with exercises to do for that, but I'm still worried I'm missing something.
I know the long digital extensor can slide and cause this, but is there any way to specifically test for this?
Thanks,
Diane

[lehughes]

Hey Diane,

He's what I've found. (Never seen one.)

Displacement of the long digital extensor tendon of origin from its bony groove immediately distal to the tibial plateau occurs rarely. The problem typically occurs in young dogs; displacement of the tendon is palpable during flexion and extension and causes severe lameness. Treatment is reduction of the restraining ligament across the groove.


As found in: Textbook of Small Animal Surgery, Volume 1
edited by Douglas H. Slatter

Referencing the following source:
Bloomberg MS: Tendon, muscle and ligament injuries and surgery. In Olmstead ML (ed): Small Animal Orthopedics. Mosby, St. Louis, 1995, p 482.

So I think the trick is primarily to be able to put your finger over the area and flex / extend the stifle.

Laurie

[David Lane]

Not just the stifle - extend the stifle, flex the hock and extend the digits to keep the LDE slack.
Palpate the groove immediately cranial to the bony lump you feel on the lateral proximal tibia (about 1/3 of the way back from the tibial tuberosity)
Then flex the stifle and digits while extending the hock and see if the tendon leaves the groove

[dmpaster]

Thanks!