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  Discussion on Bone chip in knee, calcified, long term prognosis?
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Posted on Monday, Jan 1, 2001 - 4:45 pm:

I am looking for a horse for purchase to do some lower level dressage with. I have looked at a TB, 8 years old, off the track for about four years and has done pretty much, not much, still quite green for arena riding. He appears sound and has three nice gaits - my question, he was taken off the track for an apparent knee injury - he has a bone chip. My understanding are there are no Xrays, the chip was just left to calcify. It is at the right knee, inside, upper portion of knee, maybe a half dime protrusion, rounded. What can you tell me of its impact on the horses' long term soundness? The previous owners have had him on a chonDrOitin - glucosomine supplement to prevent arthritis. Thank you much.

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 2, 2001 - 7:29 am:

Hello Michele,
In order to accurately prognose this horse you will need to have it examined and a set of radiographs done. Knee chips can run the gamut from no problem to serious.
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 2, 2001 - 10:27 pm:

Our thoroughbred also has a bone chip which was left to calcify. He is currently sound and we have had no problems with him (he is 6 now - so off the track for about 3 years). We were told that he would probably have no problem - except the potential for some arthritis later in years. Otherwise our vet told us he was sound and ran the same risks as any horse depending upon what we were doing with him. But, you run the risk of injury with any horse so we decided it was worth the risk for our investment and our plans for him. I think some of it is the amount of risk you are wanting to take with this horse and your plans for him in the future.

Posted on Saturday, Jul 13, 2002 - 5:23 pm:

I just trucked a 3yo straight off the track to a vet for xrays for bone chips in both knees. The person that rescued this horse does not know what to do. The chip in the right knee is huge and in both knees there's damage to the bone due to the chips. The horse was obviously raced to death.
I believe this horse at 3 has a better chance at recovery if he has surgery and I told her this.
Nothing is 100% so she has to make a decision. The vet told her to decide in a month and she couldn't understand why. I explained to her that the longer she waits the more damage done.
What I would like from all of you is some sound advice I can give this woman to convince her that it's worth the chance. I worked with off tracks for 11 years and this guy has the dispostion to be a child's mount so well worth the effort. Her other option is to put him in a field forever an not do the surgery.
Help!!!
I don't know where spell check is on this site so forgive my errors.
Thanx,
Jeanne

Posted on Sunday, Jul 14, 2002 - 6:11 am:

Hello Jeanne,
To activate the spell check feature just go into your profile and select the spell check box and don't forget to push the Save button for that area of your profile.

I know you were looking for more support but without looking at the radiographs and the horse and not knowing the owners goals it is hard for us to recommend any course of action, particularly since secondary damage is already there. Perhaps if she is sitting on the fence having the radiographs reviewed and getting a second opinion of by qualified radiologist and surgeon would help her.
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jul 15, 2002 - 1:08 pm:

Jeanne, go to this website...the Retraining TB's list is full of people with tons of experience in this exact situation...some of the members work with TB rescue and see this type of injury pretty much daily.
Retrain TB's home page

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 16, 2002 - 9:25 am:

Hello Liz,
Thanks for the link and I am sure there are lots of folks there who can help with general questions but I must reiteate that there are limits to help that can be given without an exam, review of the radiographs, and discussion with the ownwer of the horse.
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 16, 2002 - 2:50 pm:

Oh yes, Dr.O I totally agree...I was just thinking that once she finds out exactly the extent of the chips, the people on the list could give their experiences on future use of the horse. :)
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