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 Upper Rear Limb » Stifle Lameness » Stifle Lock: Upward Fixation of the Patella »
  Discussion on Mild Stifle Lock
Author Message
Member:
Caymie

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 12, 2003 - 11:21 pm:

Hi Dr. O.,
Well I'm back, but on a different subject. After appearing sound initially after starting Caymann up after his three month rest for his suspensory, he is still doing that wierd, intermittent hitching in his left hind. It finally dawned on me that we might be dealing with a mechanical problem. So, instead of injecting his stifle again, I put him on Bute for seven days to see if the problem went away. It didn't-he continues to go along normally for several strides, and then he has that hitch or hop in his gait. It is almost like he wants to take a mini-canter step. He also stands kind of funny sometimes, he points that left hind (including his foot) outward. Both the surgeon and my ambulatory vet agree that this could be the problem. It would explain why they found nothing wrong with his stifle when they scoped it, and why he didn't respond to the injection. He also does not appear to be in pain, (Although I think he has been sore as this has been going on for eight months now). My questions are these:

He did improve alot after they blocked that stifle out in May. Could the block have diffused through the joint so that he was not feeling any of this? Or if he is somewhat sore as a result of being off back there for so long, maybe the block took care of that? Will a mild case of stifle lock block out?

Also, if it has gone on long enough, could the problem make him a little sore back there? I can't believe that this might not make him somewhat sore, or at least uncomfortable. Can a mild case of upward fixation also present as a low-grade lameness behind? He has been tracking up short on that left hind all this time.

Will a stifle lock problem ever respond to a flexion test?

One of the things that has never made sense to me throughout all of this is the fact that this problem is so intermittent. If he were truly lame for some other reason, I would expect him to be lame every step of the way. Which he is not. And he has been a lot more sore behind than this before, and he has never exhibited this wierd hitch in his stride. It worsens on a circle too.

We are going to try the hormone injections first. I am going from least invasive on up. If that doesn't help, I may let them try this new procedure where they just makes some small incisions in the ligament. I do not want them to cut it, and the blistering idea does not really appeal to me.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.
His suspensory ligament is healing up very nicely. We are continuing to walk under saddle for that.

Thanks,
Mary
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 13, 2003 - 9:53 am:

I am not sure how answering your conjectured questions is helpful: most would be answered "maybe" but what does that mean? How does it help you solve your problem if it is clear at this time he suffers from upward fixation?

It seems these are confounding thoughts and you need to concentrate on the problem at hand and the step wise approach you are taking is logical to me.
DrO

Member:
Caymie

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 13, 2003 - 2:39 pm:

Dr. O.,
I will continue with my plan as stated and see how he does. I know that at this point the important thing is that we think we've figured this out. I was just trying to put it all together since this has gone on for so long, and baffled so many people. I guess my questions were just my attempt to make sense of it all. Kind of wishing that I had tried the Bute experiment a long time ago, but such is life.

Thanks,
Mary
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