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  Discussion on Questions about Suspensory Injury
Author Message
Member:
Tdye

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 18, 2005 - 11:41 am:

Hi Dr. O.

My horse has been diagnosed w/ a RR suspensory injury by two of my favorite vets. Both of them say that the suspensory has pulled small chunk of bone away from the back of the cannon bone where it connects below the knee. Both feel that the horse is rehabible (is that a word) but in different ways.

The horse never really went lame; but she started showing resistance to a heavier work (dressage)load with a very mild lameness. It was so mild that my vet couldn't believe I noticed it. Anyway there was never any heat or swelling just and a very mild reaction to palpation... but ulta sound (first vet) showed a clear dip in the bone where the ligament attaches high up on the cannon bone. And X Rays (second vet) show a small bone "irregularity".

First vet has my horse on a rest w/controlled exercise program which I am doing. Second vet is doing Shock wave therapy. (I know more study is needed for this; but I figure if it won't hurt anything I am willing to give it a try).

Anyway I have some stupid questions about the injury itself. First off... why cant I find any info on a suspensory that has pulled off a chunk of bone... surely my horse is not the only one that has done this? :-) I've done search after search and come up with nothing.. on the web as well as this site.

Second of all..What... in your experience is the prognosis for this type of injury. Is this really a ligament injury or a bone injury??? I know that rear suspensory injuries are prone to reinjury... is that the case here as well?

Thanks you.
Member:
Dres

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 18, 2005 - 1:28 pm:

Christine, I believe the injury you talk of is called an avulsion fracture.. you might want to do some research with that name in mind...


On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with SPOTS..

Member:
Tdye

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 18, 2005 - 3:23 pm:

Thanks Ann,

I did a search on this site and didn't turn up much. I saw the problems you had w/your pony and I'm sorry. Hope he is still doing better.

I'm off to search on the www and see what I can find.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 19, 2005 - 7:33 am:

Christine, check out Equine Diseases » Lameness » Treatment Methods » Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy where we discuss the specifics of treating proximal suspensory desmitis with avulsion. When you look at large numbers of these desmitis cases with and without the avulsion, the avulsion does not worsen the prognosis.
DrO
Member:
Tdye

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 19, 2005 - 8:21 am:

Thanks Dr. O.

I think I found the right article; but, I only found the reference to suspensory desmitis. Couldn't find anything w/avulsion. Well at least it seems that shock wave CAN help.

There is no lesion in the ligament itself. I guess it's wishful thinking that this avulsion is not caused from a weakening or diseased and/or stressed suspensory? I'm scared that this horse (who is very nice) is going to be a pasture ornament. Oh well I'll have to treat and see what happens.

It also seems that the rehab program is correct. Controlled exercise program w/the shockwave. Would you agree?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 19, 2005 - 6:10 pm:

I went and looked at the Shockwave article and while it mentions its use on avulsions in the therapeutic regimens subtopic I see it is not mentioned in the specific treatment plan. Yes I think the plan your vet outlines seems sensible.
DrO
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