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Discussion on Soft Tissue Injury
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Member:
Skappes
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Posted on Monday, Jan 31, 2005 - 1:11 pm:
I have a 6 yr old gelding that has been slightly lame in his right hind for about 6 weeks. He is also very sensitive to being touched in the stifle area and will try to kick if you do. He's a big baby and doesn't put up with any pain so it is hard to say how bad it actually hurts. I can't be sure but around the time I noticed him being lame I saw skid marks in the mud of his paddock that looked like one leg kept sliding a good 6 ft beyond the other leg. So I think he may have fallen. I had a lameness workup done a week ago and the vet found a 3/5 lameness in the upper right hind from the flexion test. I also had a bone scan done and it did not show any sort of bone injury so the diagnosis made was a soft tissue injury by default.
One of my questions is whether there are any other tests that could be done to definitively diagnose the soft tissue injury or is the diagnosis by default valid?
The treatment prescribed for the soft tissue injury was 2 months stall rest, 2 gms bute for 10-14 days, and take him back to the clinic for re-evaluation at the end of 2 months. Does that sound reasonable? Would massage, accupuncture, or anything else speed up recovery?
Also, does the stall size matter for stall rest? My gelding's stall is 14 x 18 and if I leave the door open he can also go into a 10 x 10 area outside. I hate too restrict him too much but I also hate to not restrict him enough.
Thanks,
Sandie
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 1, 2005 - 6:57 am:
The most important part of any lameness exam is the phyisical exam itself followed by regional anesthesia. For details on how we recommend a exam see, Equine Diseases » Lameness » Localizing Lameness in the Horse.
Without knowing the actual cause of the lameness it is hard to know the proper treatment. Having had good luck with pretty bad soft tissue stifle injuries and stall rest if that is what he thinks he is dealing with this seems logical to me. The 10 x 10 paddock is fine with me but you should check with the vet for his opinion.
DrO
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