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  Discussion on Outside, front leg splint creating suspensory issues
Author Message
New Member:
Wandab

Posted on Monday, Apr 17, 2006 - 9:32 am:

My 12 year old TB has an outside (4th metacarpal) splint located approximately one-third of the way down his cannon bone from his knee. A couple of months ago, he initially exhibited a 3 of 4 lameness with minimal swelling and heat. My vet isolated the lameness to the splint location and injected him with corticosteroids. A couple of days later he ran an ultrasound and applied shock wave therapy to the suspensory ligament because the ultrasound had indicated disrupted suspensory fibers around the splint location. Several days later, my horse appeared to be sound. A few weeks after my horse appeared to be sound, I gradually began walking and lightly trotting him on the lunge ( beginning at 10 minutes then working up to 15), in a huge circle so I would not put any undue strain on him. He seemed to be doing well but in a couple of weeks, his lameness and more swelling/heat returned. I stopped exercising him at that point. Currently, he is slightly lame and exhibits minimal heat in the affected area. I am administering cold therapy twice daily for approx. 30 minutes each session. My horse has not been on strict stall rest the entire time and has been turned out in his paddock without other horses. He is generally calm in that atmosphere. I have a few questions:
1. Should I totally restrict him to his stall?
2. Should I wrap his legs? I’m concerned about adding additional heat to his leg.
3. Should I have my vet administer additional shock therapy treatments?
4. I’m concerned that if the splint is impinging on the suspensory, he will never regain soundness unless the splint is removed surgically. What should I do to make that surgery determination and what is the outlook good for returning him to lower level dressage after surgery?
5. If surgery is not indicated, could you give me an idea of how much longer I should rest him and how I will know when I can begin returning him to work.

Thanks so much for your help and advice.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 18, 2006 - 7:05 am:

Welcome Wanda,
If the diagnosis is splint impingement on the suspensory, surgery would be required and the horse should be on restricted exercise until then and wrapping (unless you get swelling) and shock wave a waste of time. However, this is a rare cause of problems and without more proof than what you offer above I would be uncertain. I would have a second opinion done by a lameness specialist to see if they agree.
DrO
New Member:
Wandab

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 18, 2006 - 7:47 am:

Thanks for your quick response DrO! The treatment to this point seems to be pointed toward healing the suspensory irritation, but as you point out, that will never resolve if the splint is truly impinging on it. I appreciate you giving me more focus on this problem. Thanks again. Wanda
New Member:
Wandab

Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 9:12 am:

Dr0,
On your suggestion, I got a second opinion on this problem. The vet took a few x-rays and told me that the splint was not fractured, however, the ligament between the splint and cannon bone had pulled away some tiny fragments of the cannon. He felt that it was healing satisfactorily. Additionally, he suggested the shock therapy treatment 3 times in 2-week intervals to encourage quicker healing of the suspensory. Overall, he felt that in a matter of time the problem would be resolved. Thanks again for your help and recommendations! Wanda
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 10:49 pm:

That is good news Wanda.
DrO
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