- This forum has 3 topics, and was last updated 2 years ago by
.
Viewing 3 topics - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
-
- Topic
- Voices
- Posts
- Last Post
Viewing 3 topics - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
- You must be logged in to create new topics.
Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmopathy / Desmitis (DSLD)
Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis (DSLD) and Equine Systemic Proteoglycan Accumulation (ESPA) in Horses
Introduction
Degenerative suspensory ligament disease (DSLD) is a term used for several different disease processes involving the suspensory ligaments (SL). It describes a process of growth and/or healing of the suspensory ligament with a poor quality connective tissue. This poor quality connective tissue is prone to further injury and more dysfunctional healing creating a downward spiral of injury and weakening of the ligament. Most often DSLD is seen in the rear legs, but not exclusively.
In the 1980's there began a spreading perception that Peruvian Pasos (PP's) suffered from an unusually high incidence of chronic suspensory disease in young horses without a history of acute injury. Though the rear limbs were most often affected the disease can effect all four limbs. Rarely it is seen in only the front limbs. More recent research has found that the condition in PP's is frequently not just localized to the suspensory ligaments but a defect in the connective tissue of other ligaments, tendons, and organs. This has been labelled Equine Systemic Proteoglycan Accumulation (ESPA). Strong familial associations point to a genetic disorder.
Since that time this condition has been described in Peruvian Paso crosses, Arabians, American Saddlebreds, American Quarter Horses, Standardbreds, Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods, and some European breeds. Within these breeds, is a familial association. In the non-PP breeds the condition is often associated with hard work and the onset is in the later years. Together these suggest a genetic predisposition in PP's for DSLD. This article covers the current information and controversy on the defects, clinical signs, diagnosis, and treatment for DSLD and ESPA.
Clinical Signs
Anatomy
A review of the anatomy of the suspensory and the surrounding structures can be found in the reference section, click here.
Early to Middle Age DSLD / EPSA, not associated with acute injury
Early in the disease there may be little localizing signs of suspensory desmitis. Instead a vague stiffness or mild lameness may be present most often, but not always, in the rear limbs. Swelling of the suspensory or "dropped fetlocks" are not present early. This lameness will be most often be intermittent and improve with rest. At this point the best localizing signs will be a fetlock flexion test on the lame leg(s) that leads to a remarkable lameness that persists for a minute or two. As the disease progresses the lameness becomes more pronounced and swelling may be found in the distal suspensory, particularly the suspensory branches that are painful on palpation. Usually the front legs will become involved. In the later stages there will be remarkable swelling of the distal suspensory and suspensory branches and in some individuals the fetlock will drop as the suspensory loses function.
Older Horse DSLD in working horses
Other breeds effected with DSLD have similar clinical signs but the disease develops later in life in hard working individuals. DSLD in other breeds appears to be a chronic suspensory desmitis, induced by hard work and bringing the suspensory to a point that the suspensory can no longer maintain its normal architecture, gradually breaking down with further work. There may be a component of inappropriate healing leading to further breakdown.
Causes
To read more on this topic become a member of Horseadvice.com! Your membership gets you instant access to this and over 600 equine articles on our site. Other benefits of your membership include participation in our discussion boards and access to our one button PubMed search tool for each topic.
Horseadvice.com educates you to be a more knowledgeable horse owner which leads to healthier horses and save you money, we guarantee it. Come Join Us!