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  Discussion on Lameness - Source, Coffin Joint
Author Message
New Member:
Cwbynkid

Posted on Monday, Dec 29, 2003 - 3:10 pm:

I have a 5 year mare that I am competing with in Team Penning, who, last summer was diagnosed with an apparent soft tissue injury in her left front coffin joint. I have read many posts in the forums, I know this is a non specific dx - yet I am uneasy not knowing more of what we are dealing or if I should be more aggressive in determining what the problem is - if it is even possible to do so. And if knowing, would the treatment and re - conditioning plan be any different. I am so concerned that once we are back to conditioning, competing - we are going to end up in the 'same boat' again. She is currently sound. Based On her history below can you please advise. Should I be taking another approach?

Thanks,
Cheryl

History:
August 1st: During a practice noticed she was not moving fluently to the left. No head bobbing, heat, or swelling present. She just didn't 'feel' right.

While evaluating, I noticed a new, large splint on her right leg. Allowed her to rest about 10 days.

August 16th - I started exercising her, noticed lameness on left front, when circling. No heat, or swelling present

Vet exam (summarized)

hoof tester - no significant tenderness
flexion tests - negative
digital pulse -negative
PD block - sound
left lameness on straight, more pronounced circling (grade 2 - 3)
slight inflammation above coronary band

Performed IA injection (coffin joint) - hyaluronic acid, checked her for lameness 5 days later, she was sound.

We rested her 30 days (small paddock), I began to exercise her lightly),and performed a 2nd hyaluronic acid injection (September 20th).
Rested another week and began to recondition, slowly.
October 20th - competed, no problems.
October 30th - practiced working cattle - no problems.
November 1st - upon warm up, noticed lameness again (on straight, more pronounced circling - grade 2 - 3).

Vet Exam - same as initial, PD block, sound. X-rays indicated no boney changes, no degeneration - arthritic changes.

November 21st - sound.

My vet explained it would not be possible to more specifically determine the problem, other than it's probably a soft tissue injury, coffin joint area without more additional diagnostics (ultrasound, MRI...) With it now being late fall, I decided to just 'turn her out'. Talking with fellow competitors, I was advised to consider possibly raising her hoof angle.

December 18th - I consulted with a highly recommended fairer who works with our vets at the University of Minnesota. He felt she should be raised 3 - 4 degrees. With trimming and a 2 degree pad, he raised the angle. He felt her heels are somewhat under and left trailers for additional support while rolling the toes to encourage break over. He did note she has very thin soles.

We plan to let her rest another 4 weeks, then slowly recondition her another 4-6 weeks before we begin refreshing the more physically demanding skills - hoping that she will be competing with me again this next year.

Member:
Canyon28

Posted on Monday, Dec 29, 2003 - 4:14 pm:

Sounds like "road" founder to me, since she developed splints, which are also another sign of running on hard surfaces. I think your farrier is on the right track with her shoeing. You will also need to make sure her feet are kept clean as much as possible. Horses with thin soles do not do well with dirt , manure or mud packed in the shoes. I would really hesitate to keep a full pad on her front feet, I lost a mare from using pads, they are the perfect place for anerobic activity, bacteria and infection to start. Your farrier can use the new liquid plastics that can be used to make her a frog pad or a heel bar, and not use pads.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 30, 2003 - 5:26 am:

A unilateral lameness without signs of heat or digital pulse and I think road founder unlikely. I like the conclusions your vet has drawn: we don't know what is wrong though it localizes to the foot. It keeps him from overlooking possibilities. As long as the shoeing has established a normal hoof pastern axis it sounds like you are doing all you can with the possible exception of oral joint supplements since the problem is thought to possibly be in the coffin joint. If the horse does not respond to this you can always pursue the advanced diagnostics.
DrO
Member:
leslie1

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 17, 2009 - 2:28 pm:

Wow!?
That is almost verbatim what Punky has. Minus the splint.
It seems a guessing game unless one gets an MRI.
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