This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Lower Limb » Diseases of the Sesamoid Bones »
  Discussion on Suspensory damage at the point of origin
Author Message

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 31, 2001 - 3:53 pm:

My horse (10 year TBx) has just been diagnosed with a hind leg suspensory injury (small tear) at the point of origin. The vet feels this is a re-tear from an earlier injury from last October. This was confirmed in radiographs and ultrasound taken last week showing both the tear and damage to the bone where the suspensory attaches, as well as looking at old radiographs from 10/00. (In October2000 he was layed off for six months for a splint/suspensory injury -- so he was rested but not for the point of origin problem.)

My vet is recommending 6-9 months rest and then see what I've got. This is a training level event horse schooling second level dressage. My vet does not know what level of riding he will be useable for if/when he becomes sound. As I understand his explanation, once they re-tear at the attachment point, the incidence of re-tear is likely. However, he does not want to commit to a prognosis other than wait and see.

I am trying to make a decision on what to do with this horse for the long haul. He is my only horse and I cannot afford two. I am looking for an informed opinion (or at this point even an informed guesstimate!) on what the likelihood this horse has as even being a dressage horse. I very much want to continue riding him -- I am happy to switch to dressage if it means being able to keep him. But from what I understand, with point of origin injuries, I could be looking at this happening again and again, regardless of whether I quit jumping him. He was resting in 2001 for over six months. It looks like 2002 will be spent mostly resting as well. I don't mind waiting another year if I have hope he will come back. I am just not sure what to think. I have looked all over your site for info on this particular kind of injury but didn't find anything. Any kind of insight into the situation is sincerely appreciated.

Posted on Thursday, Nov 1, 2001 - 6:24 am:

Hello Erika,
No two injuries of this type are exactly the same. To truly evaluate you injury would reuqire a personal evaluation of the horse, the US and radiographs. So let me reinterpret your veterinarians words. When he says, "retearing is likely", I believe he is trying to say the prognosis is guarded. That is your horse has about a 30 to 40% chance of returning to his former athletic function.
DrO
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC