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  Discussion on Do Healed Ligaments regain their normal size?
Author Message
New Member:
edsgirl

Posted on Thursday, Nov 12, 2015 - 10:56 pm:

After my gelding received PRP for his suspensory injuries (medial and lateral branches, right hind) the whole of the area from the pastern to the mid body of the suspensories were enlarged, with heat and swelling. The heat remained for 4 months after the procedure. Over time the swelling decreased to what is almost considered normal for the body, but the branch area itself (both sides) remain thickened and larger. No heat, and we are in rehab still at 11 months post surgery. Our rehab protocol is very conservative - no jumping or cantering circles, only trotting at this point.
Do healed suspensories always remain enlarged? Can they be normal but just bigger? We are due for another lamness evaluation when we reach 5 minutes of trot for 3 repeats with 5 mins walk in between. We aren't there yet. Would another ultrasound be recommended at that point? The original lesions were deemed moderate but not core lesions.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Nov 13, 2015 - 9:26 am:

Hello PJ,
For those wondering PRP is platelet rich plasma and information appears in the article associated with this discussion area.

Usually strained ligaments remain enlarged but it will depend on the nature and severity of the lesions. You call them moderate, is that moderate strain or moderate tear? The reason they remain larger is the edema that was the original cause of swelling is replaced with some scar tissue. If there were tears this too is healed with scar tissue. The scar tissue is not as strong or flexible as regular ligament tissue. However it can be functional enough for work. As to more ultrasounds this is a call to be made by the examining veterinarian but often recommended until healed completely: when improvements in the ultrasound stop. For more on this see the treatment and prognosis section of the article and follow the link to the rehab article where specifics are given.
DrO
Member:
dres

Posted on Friday, Nov 13, 2015 - 10:43 am:

i know what Dr. o to say is true ... i had rehabbed my mare from a complete severed DDFT , you can look up my profile on her ... actually got her showing at 2nd level Dressage when the surgeon said she would be pasture sound ... BUT , yes the area is compromised and weaker ... thus last year she came running to the gate , slide bunny hop stop and displaced her P2 bone ... i can't afford a MRI but the x rays showed the displacement .. we assume she tore or stretched all the scar tissue that was there from the first injury (( we did do a ultrasound but it was unreadable due to all the scar tissue )) .. so lesson learned if the issue you are dealing with was severe , i would be always careful on any free turn out ... with my farrier and careful shoeing , 6 months later the bone was back in place ... but she is still in control environment and exercise .. most likely for the rest of our life .. no longer can i show her , as this time around she has a irregular gait ...
Good luck ..
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots ..
Member:
dres

Posted on Friday, Nov 13, 2015 - 10:46 am:

there are two parts to my journey
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