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  Discussion on Stripped left hind cannon
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New Member:
khayes55

Posted on Friday, Apr 11, 2008 - 9:10 am:

In November my gelding got into some wire and stripped the front of the hind left cannon, about an 8" section to the bone. The bone is now covered and I am wrapping it to keep the proud flesh from becoming excessive. When he walks he is reaching high with this leg. Will the ligament re-attach itself? We are exercising for 1 hour daily at the walk with a little trot. Do you have any suggestions/
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Apr 13, 2008 - 9:49 am:

Hello Kristina,
I am uncertain what is going on with the leg lifting high as this is not do to a torn extensor tendon: the ones in the front of the cannon. These tendons are responsible for lifting the leg so when severed there is a tendency for the leg to drag when drawn forward. Can you describe the motion of the leg in more detail?
DrO
New Member:
khayes55

Posted on Thursday, Apr 17, 2008 - 9:39 am:

My mistake, the extensor tendon was severed and the tendon is in the ankle. The movement is similar to the string halt in that he is faster in picking up the leg and is reaching higher than the other leg in order to set it down. He is still placing the leg down in the same spot that the other hoof leaves which seems positive. On hard surfaces he doesn't want to put it down at all. We are keeping him primarily in the arena were the sand is course but not hard. When he backs up he will not use the leg hardly at all. It's as if he can't feel it or it is very painful? He seems to be using the leg more especially when he is cantering in the pasture. We are hoping the tendon will come back up the leg and reattach its self. Is this possible?
Member:
dres

Posted on Thursday, Apr 17, 2008 - 9:59 am:

Kristina, is there any kind of flip to the lifting of the hoof? toe pointing up ?

I can't answer your question, but my 'understanding' is if the tendon has been severed it will shorten up and the connection will be scar tissue not tendon..
I would think rest in a stall more helpful in the healing then a gallop in the pasture .. Is he wearing supportive type shoes..?

Good luck with him REHABSUCKS..

On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Apr 18, 2008 - 10:40 am:

Got it Kristina,
Though the severed extensor tendon is not directly responsible for this action, it may be that the lost of this tendon creates poorly controlled extensor action in the other extensors. Alternatively there may have been blunt trauma further up the leg resulting in a more typical (neurological) stringhalt. Either case is hard to know if it may be transient. Whether the tendon reattaches or not (it likely will) is not really here nor there as to whether this stringy gait will extinguish.

I think a reasonable plan at this time is to wait until the leg heals and then decide at that time whether further treatment might be warranted. In the meantime we have recommendations on extensor lacerations at Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Lower Limb » Tendon Lacerations.

Ann you are confusing the much more serious case of a flexor laceration with a extensor laceration. The difference is explained in the above article I reference.
DrO
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