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Discussion on Splint or something else?
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Posted on Monday, Nov 22, 1999 - 5:56 pm:
The day after riding my fat, overweight gelding, I noticed swelling on one of his hindlegs. It was the size of a quarter, almost like a little bubble, on either side of his leg, right above the fetlock joint. He is not lame, and there is little or no tenderness in the area. I love and value my horses dearly, but I don't want to go through an expensive battery of tests to only have my veterinarian say "he needs rest." When I called my veterinarian, he wanted me to bring him in to the clinic for x-rays and possibly other tests. Is this called for with this type of injury? I would appreciate any information you could give me regarding this type of injury and recommendations for possible treatment.
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Posted on Tuesday, Nov 23, 1999 - 6:35 am:
Hello Michelle,
There is no way for us to answer your question without examining the horse. Though I cannot be sure from your description, it sounds like you are seeing a distension of the volar pouches of the fetlock joint, though I cannot rule out distensions in the flexor sheath above the annular ligament. I don't think it is a splint though you may have just discovered the normal bulbs to the splint.
I think any acute changes in a synovial sheath warrant some investigation though radiographs may not be needed if there is no lameness. Remember you control the extent of the exam: perhaps a request for an exam, a list of possibilites and likely hood of each, and there recommended treatment would provide a path of least expense - most benefit.
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