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Discussion on Torn Right Extensor Carpi Radialis Tendond
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New Member:
1roper
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Posted on Monday, Mar 26, 2007 - 1:22 pm:
My 7yo running bred QH mare (my newest barrel horse prospect) tore this tendon. She was diagnosed the end of January and the DVM said 30 days stall rest and she should be fine. At this point her 30 days is way past up, and just by the end of last week all the swelling was gone from the knee.
What I'd like to know is how should I bring her back to shape or should it matter? I started handwalking her every other day for 10-15 minutes a day starting the middle of March. What are the chances she'll re-injure it?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 27, 2007 - 8:42 am:
Welcome Jennifer,
Though a common injury in foals, unusual in an adult. You could bring this back like a laceration of this tendon so refer to the extensor laceration recommendations at, Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Lower Limb » Tendon Lacerations. Also a prognosis is offered there. If this differs substantially from your vet's recommendations you should discuss why this is with your veterinarian and as always we would be interested in what the final decision is.
DrO
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New Member:
1roper
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 27, 2007 - 2:34 pm:
Thanks, Dr. O. It's good to back on this board after a several year hiatus.
This mare is a bit behind at the knee. I don't know if that makes any difference or not as to why the injury happened. The attending vet seemed to think that she had to seriously hyper-extend the knee to do this type of damage to her extensor tendon (and she did take a nasty fall). The tear was minor- just at the knee- not above, not below, right across it, where most racehorses would get a bone chip. She did not have a bone chip, but she did tear some bone skin off. He said that it should heal smooth and she'll be 100% sound.
I had an ultrasound done two weeks ago by another vet - who is local, (as the vet attending the injury in the first place is a 2hour drive from me) say she was at 80% and I could bring her back to work if I chose. Both DVMs said she'd be 100% sound again. Neither said anything about hand-walking. My chiropractor/acupuncturist was who suggested that.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 - 6:55 am:
Not hyperextend but hyperflexion of the carpus caused the rupture and depending on what you mean by behind at the knees there could be a relation.
When you say behind at the knee do you mean, "the knee sets back on the cannon causing a bit of a cleft" or that "the whole leg sort of bows back with the knee being the furthest back". In the former case the upper legs and cannon are straight up and down just a bit offset, while in the second case the legs bow backwards slightly when the horse is standing square. If you will post conformation photos from both sides and the front and back I would be glad to comment.
DrO
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New Member:
1roper
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Posted on Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 - 7:59 am:
I think you can see what I'm referring to when you look at this photo.
I spoke to the diagnosing vet yesterday. He asked about the swelling, which has gone down completely save for a small, round, fluid filled portion in the center of the knee (about the size of a quarter). He said to go to 20 minutes of walking and trotting per day for two weeks, and so long as the knee doesn't get hot or swollen she should be fine. In the third week I can bring her back to loping.
He did say the chances of reinjury were greater since she's damaged it once (as opposed to a horse that has never damaged their knee), but not to fret about it. Keep in mind this vet is a racehorse vet with 30 years experience on the track. Now he keeps about 20% of the professional rodeo horses that go down the road in good health.
No one has said to do this (but I'm pretty sure I've read it!), but I think it can't hurt to do some hyDrOtherapy after each 20 minute session. I've also got her on glucosamine, chonDrOitin, vitamin C, and MSM.
This photo makes her look like she *toes out*. She does not. She really has pretty straight legs.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Mar 29, 2007 - 7:38 am:
They don't look too bad with respect to "back at the knee". I certainly would not have flagged them for barrel racing at least from what I can see in the photos.
DrO
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Member:
1roper
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Posted on Tuesday, Apr 10, 2007 - 9:04 am:
Dr. O-
Thanks for the above answer. My vet said the same thing. He said she's not bad enough that he'd flag her either.
We were released to start her back at the walk and trot for two weeks. Our two weeks are up now and they had been going well. The swelling was basically gone, and there was no heat in the knee. This weekend however, some swelling showed up- in the bottom of the knee- where the knee ties into the cannon bone. It has not been swollen here before, and it is not hot. It really looks and feels like it's just stocked up or holding fluid. What say you?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Apr 11, 2007 - 7:45 am:
Without examining the horse Jennifer, I cannot assess this swelling. IF you are uncertain as to the significance you should back off the exercise a bit until the vet can examine it to see what the reason for the increased swelling is.
DrO
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