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HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Lower Limb » Inferior Check Ligament Desmitis »
  Discussion on Check ligament surgery
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Member:
lynnie

Posted on Thursday, Dec 13, 2007 - 2:02 pm:

I own an APHA filly that had check ligament surgery on 11/30/07 at 8 1/2 months of age. She acquired a slightly clubbed foot @ 4 months of age which was really not improving with regular farrier work. Both my vet and the farrier recommended the surgery. The incision site is high on the cannon bone and toward the rear of the whole knee joint, making it somewhat difficult to get a good compression wrap to stay on, but I'm doing the best I can. Have been hand walking twice a day, 10 minutes each time. She's in a double stall too, and can be somewhat active in there. The vet was out today to remove sutures. The incision site was bloody with excessive granulation tissue forming. He removed the sutures, left me with Panalog/DMSO to put on the site at bandage changes, and put her back on Sulfa's and Banamine. Vet said he'd never seen one do this before (although I don't believe it's a really common surgery in his practice) and said the filly may have been having a reaction to the sutures or my compression wrap was less than adequate. Any ideas or words of wisdom here Dr. O?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Dec 14, 2007 - 6:07 am:

Hello Lynn,
As long as lameness is not remarkable or worsening this will be fine, infection that is worsening is always very painful. Wounds can heal second intention just fine and I recommend the procedures in Diseases of Horses » Skin Diseases, Wounds, and Swellings » Wounds / Burns » Long Term Deep Wound Care as long as approved by your vet. To get a good high bandage Lynn try putting on a regular standing bandage they build on top of that a few more inches. The bandage should have equal pressure through out.

But how did the surgery work out: did you get the release you are looking for so that you can trim the club out?
DrO
Member:
lynnie

Posted on Friday, Dec 14, 2007 - 1:06 pm:

Thanks for your prompt response Dr. O. As far as lameness goes, there is absolutely none. She acts good, and moves right out during our daily hand walking. The surgery went quite well, total release, with much improved angle. I will continue to work hard at my bandaging :o) So do you think the post-op problem she is experiencing now with the granulation tissue, etc. will make for a larger bump at the incision site? Originally, we were looking at 30 days of stall rest, bandaging, and hand walking. Is that was you normally see in these check ligament recoveries? Thanks a bunch Dr. O.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Dec 15, 2007 - 10:45 am:

Without seeing it Lynn, I really do not know what effect this might have...if the inflammation of the open wound penetrates to the ligament, yes it might leave a bigger scar but what does your vet say? Concerning return to work the article associated with this discussion gives a reasonable and detailed rehab schedule.
DrO
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