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HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Upper Rear Limb » Stifle Lameness » Stifle Lock: Upward Fixation of the Patella »
  Discussion on Stiffle and hock relation
Author Message
Member:
Beasley

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 2, 2003 - 8:54 pm:

For the second time, I have purchased a horse with upward fixation of the patella. The current problem is two-fold. He has an obvious stiffle locking (mild) and he occasionally exhibits sore hocks by stabbing his back foot into the ground. Now, my vet has suggested treating the hocks with injections. I know a stiffle problem can cause hock trouble, but is the opposite true? Can a hock problem cause stiffle problems? Which problem should I treat? Are stiffle problems a permanent condition? Can extended rest (3-6 mo.) disguise a hidden stiffle/hock problem? I have treated him with glucosamine injections and hill work for a year. He has had only a few months of soundness. Are the hock and the stiffle problems both intermittent? I hate to treat the hocks only to find out the stiffles have to be treated (cut, blistered, etc.) as well. HELP.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 3, 2003 - 7:31 am:

Stabbing actions of the back foot, or even a shortened stride, are not diagnostic for hock problems. To prove the localization you should have the hocks blocked. I do not see hock issues cause stifle issues nor do I see stifle issues cause hock issues. Some horses have both but causality is difficult to establish.

There is no way for me to know if these are intermittant problems. You and your vet should start with the best defined problem and work out from there. Diagnosis and treatment for arthritis of the hock and upward fixation are in their respective articles.
DrO
Member:
Beasley

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 3, 2003 - 11:59 am:

Thanks Dr. O. I did read the articles and have some experience with this. My vet has never suggested the blocking, but I will...should have done it sooner. Before I do the hock injections I want to know that is the problem. I can see the stifle problem. Is that a chronic condition? I am not clear on that. I know there are several treatment options, but is it a cure? Maybe the answer I want isn't there. My other horse who had the "same" problem was first treated with hock injections, then we did the stifle surgery. He has a lot of arthritis now. Last question: Will a stifle problem cause a horse to fall at the canter w/rider? I have never seen him fall out free, but he fell with me 3 times. Any help is appreciated.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 3, 2003 - 5:43 pm:

Upward fixation can be chronic but the treatments are designed to cure it. They just are not 100% effective in all cases, so you start with the least invasive and work your way up the list.

Though I cannot remember a horse that fell under saddle with this problem I can see where under the right circumstances it could happen.
DrO
Member:
Npennh

Posted on Monday, Sep 15, 2003 - 6:02 pm:

Hi Dr. O, I posted a question to you about two of the current treatments for mild cases of locking stifles a few months ago-Estrogen Injections and blistering. I had both done by my local vet, with no response. I then took the horse to a bigger, Sports Medicine Vet, who did say what I suspected-that Estrogen is counterproductive for locking stifles, and causes muscle.ligament relaxation, making them more loose. The horse was re-blistered, in the same places as than vet #1 as well as the accupuncture points for the stifle, and given Winstral, an anabolic Steroid, 1cc, and I gave 3 more shots, one a month. for the next 3 months. The Winstral worked like a dream. The horse was worked the same through both treatments, gaiting up inclines, and kept moving 24/7 in a herd with other horses. The Winstral helped tremendously building up the hind end, stabilizing the stifle, and no more locking. I wonder if you would include the Winstral treatment in your stifle section. I also did digital x-rays of both hocks and stifles first, to rule out osteoarthritis, and there was none, and no lameness there on flexion tests either. The Vets name is Dr. Van Snow, of Buelton, CA, and he can tell you more if interested. I would not recommend wasting the time and money on Estrogen shots, and hope it is removed as a treatment option universally. This horse is a 4 yr.Tennessee Walker, who does not have the straighter hind limb angle that is supposed to make horses prone to this lameness. I really wish I knew what caused it, as I have had three fairly young TW, all with different breeding, have locking stifles, that were not diagnosed in the 3 different pre-purchase exams. Flexion testa without lameness,loose, not "pushing from behind" gaits ,and locking stifles. Any ideas?
Member:
Beasley

Posted on Monday, Sep 15, 2003 - 6:30 pm:

Thanks for that imformative post, Natalie. Both my horses have similar problems and it is so frustrating. I just had my AQHA's hocks injected and we are hoping the stifle can be strengthened through exercise so the stifle blistering will not be necessary. I would like to know more about the Winstral. In the meantime, my vet recommends keeping the horse on a glucosamine shot every 2/3 weeks. Is there any actual evidence that the glucosamine treatment is necessary/helps after hock injections? He's been getting the injections over 1 yr. and I have my doubts? Any ideas?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 16, 2003 - 8:37 am:

Thanks for the update Nancy,
Though I too have had poor luck with estrogen we cannot ignore that some have had sucess, just as you report with the Winstrol. That said I do not use estrogen it unless someone insists (see article for more). How are we to interpret single case reports, or even if we had a half dozen. Remember you also had a second blistering, many report this alone would have achieved the desired results.

I do not believe the Winstrol (an anabolic steroid) is directly therapeutic. What it does do is help a horse gain weight, both muscle and fat. Gaining weight is a standard part of our initial therapeutic regimen and if you are having trouble achieving this, Winstrol is a great idea. Note there are behavorial downsides in some horses with the use of anabolics, for more see our article on anabolic steroids...WHOOPS, I went to get that address and could not find the link to the article anywhere except on the Alphabetical List and only as the older generic anabolic product BOLDENONE (Winstrol is stanozlol). I will correct this and get it in the menus in the miscellaneous drug section so it can be easier found.
DrO
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