Advice needed - damage to the short collateral tarsal ligament

LFD

LFD

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 March 2013
Messages
186
Location
Edinburgh
Visit site
Hi, my poor 6yo ISH tried to jump out of his field 3 weeks ago and got his legs caught up in the fence.

The fore which was caught in the fence is on the mend but there was a large amount of swelling in the hind which the vet initially through was an infection.

After an ultrasound today it devastatingly turns out to be damage to the short collateral tarsal ligament.

My vet was very straight with me and said the prognosis is not good and will generally mean intermittent lameness in the future.

He has recommended 6 weeks further box rest (he has already been on 3 weeks box rest) then back in for another scan.

He is sound in walk but lame 3/5 in trot.

Has as anyone had a similar injury or have any idea/advice they can share.

We we had just affiliated and he was showing lots of promise in BN and Discovery. I don't care if he never jumps again but I would like to do everything I can to give him a happy life.

Many thanks in advance.
 
Just a wee push to my post

Even if anyone doesn't know about this specific ligament any help on care/treatment of damaged ligaments (hind leg) would be great. I'm trying to read an much as I can but I've been fortunate not to have to deal with an injury like tis before so feel a bit out of my depth.

I'm working on rest, ice and pressure banadages to try to get the heat and sweling out but that's as far as i've got.

Thanks in advace for any help or advice!!
 
Well, I don't know about the ligament you are talking about, it is in the hock I presume.

My mare injured (kicked) the area of her stifle where two ligaments attach to the tibia. They were pretty much gone after she was operated on to remove a big bone chip.

The vets varied in their opinions at the time, one senior vet told me that, in time, connective tissue is laid down and acts like a ligament. But the general view was that she was not going to jump again, might make a hack. She had been competing at intermediate level eventing and show jumping 1.20.

She has made a full recovery now, but it took a couple of years in the field (she had a foal). I honestly don't think that leg bothers her at all now, it may in time develop arthritis, but atm she is very sound. She has not gone back up to what she was doing, but I think she possibly could, more down to lack of suitable jockey.

I've no idea if your horses injury could respond in the way that mine did, but a long quiet recovery is key to anything like this.
 
Thanks AnShanDan - yes, it is in his hock. It's great to hear your girl has made a full recovery and from talking to other people it does sound like lots of R&R over a few years might be the key to my boy's recovery. He is only 6 so I'm holding out hope of him coming back into work - I'm not sure about show jumping again to the same level but you never know.

Is there any perticular care/treatment you used when your mare was first injured you would recommend?

Many thanks! L
 
i would really recommend investing in an 'ice vibe hock boot' the massage will stimulate healing and increase blood flow and it can be used with cold packs. when in the future she is hopefully able to be ridden again u can use them to warm up ligaments before exsersize and to help cool and tighten the leg after woods hope this helps.
 
Sorry to hear your boy is injured.

I have recently been given a guarded prognosis for my mare for return to ridden work. She has severely injured her medial collateral ligament (in her right fore). My vet said I could try to work towards getting her sound enough to be ridden in straight lines in walk or I could put her to sleep. I'm doing neither really. She will be a happy field ornament until she is no longer comfortable but obviously I do want to keep her comfortable for as long as possible. She seems sound in walk on a straight line and is about 3-4/10ths lame in trot (or was - I've not even attempted to trot her up since her diagnosis 2 weeks ago) - vet has said she'll never be completely sound.

She had 10 weeks box rest (the ligament damage was secondary to a puncture wound) until she had the MRI that diagnosed the ligament damage and has now had 2 weeks of day-time turnout in a small paddock. I'm going to gradually build up the size of her paddock over the next few months and eventually she'll be able to go out in the field with some calm friends. She gets in hand walks on the path round the farm for 10-20min a day and I'm now keeping her barefoot (she was only shod in front before). I recently bought some magnetic stable chaps and have been using them while she has been in overnight the past few nights. I've not seen any huge improvements but then I didn't expect them in a short space of time, I have heard that they might encourage healing so I figured I'd give anything a shot! I have also heard good things about the ice vibe boots. I've also read that MSM is good for ligaments. My mare is on NAF superflex which contains a good amount of MSM and Hilton Herbs Rest & Restore which is meant to be good for joints too but I know you can buy stand alone MSM supplements. I'm not sure if supplements are really worth it, however I am too scared to take her off them just in case it really has helped! She is so much brighter and happier generally from getting the turnout though. Hopefully after winter I can turn her out 24/7 and let nature do it's job and hope she continues to improve.

I know it is a different injury, in a different part of the leg but I can understand your devastation/frustration etc. We used to do riding club stuff and she loved jumping and I know I'll never get to do that again but she is still here and that is the most important thing!
 
pollygbaker said:
i would really recommend investing in an 'ice vibe hock boot' the massage will stimulate healing and increase blood flow and it can be used with cold packs. when in the future she is hopefully able to be ridden again u can use them to warm up ligaments before exsersize and to help cool and tighten the leg after woods hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Thanks - I've heard good things about the ice-vibe boots too so going to put a call into the vet to see if I can use them - I wasn't sure if I could use them while his hock was so swollen but iusing the cold packs with them sounds great.

I'll keep you update on our progress.
 
starry23 said:
Sorry to hear your boy is injured.

I have recently been given a guarded prognosis for my mare for return to ridden work. She has severely injured her medial collateral ligament (in her right fore). My vet said I could try to work towards getting her sound enough to be ridden in straight lines in walk or I could put her to sleep. I'm doing neither really. She will be a happy field ornament until she is no longer comfortable but obviously I do want to keep her comfortable for as long as possible. She seems sound in walk on a straight line and is about 3-4/10ths lame in trot (or was - I've not even attempted to trot her up since her diagnosis 2 weeks ago) - vet has said she'll never be completely sound.

She had 10 weeks box rest (the ligament damage was secondary to a puncture wound) until she had the MRI that diagnosed the ligament damage and has now had 2 weeks of day-time turnout in a small paddock. I'm going to gradually build up the size of her paddock over the next few months and eventually she'll be able to go out in the field with some calm friends. She gets in hand walks on the path round the farm for 10-20min a day and I'm now keeping her barefoot (she was only shod in front before). I recently bought some magnetic stable chaps and have been using them while she has been in overnight the past few nights. I've not seen any huge improvements but then I didn't expect them in a short space of time, I have heard that they might encourage healing so I figured I'd give anything a shot! I have also heard good things about the ice vibe boots. I've also read that MSM is good for ligaments. My mare is on NAF superflex which contains a good amount of MSM and Hilton Herbs Rest & Restore which is meant to be good for joints too but I know you can buy stand alone MSM supplements. I'm not sure if supplements are really worth it, however I am too scared to take her off them just in case it really has helped! She is so much brighter and happier generally from getting the turnout though. Hopefully after winter I can turn her out 24/7 and let nature do it's job and hope she continues to improve.

I know it is a different injury, in a different part of the leg but I can understand your devastation/frustration etc. We used to do riding club stuff and she loved jumping and I know I'll never get to do that again but she is still here and that is the most important thing!
Click to expand...

I'm sorry to hear about your mare too - it's just the most devastating things. I have been trying everything - Arnica tablets and gel, ice-bandages and someone today has suggested a witch hazel sweat wrap so that will be next. I think I’ll try the NAF superflex now too. My boy is a cheeky sociable thing so it actually being ok on his box rest but it's only week 3 - not sure how he'll cope with another 6 weeks but the vet said complete rest is the best thing for him so that is what he'll be getting.

I agree with your comment about letting nature take its course, I think he'll be on box rest with some walking in hand over the winter and then we can think about some turn out in the better weather. I'll be so worried putting him out as that's how he was injured in the first place. He was jumping 100/110 track so it's upsetting thinking that won't be an option in the future but he is such a loving boy he'll be a super happy hacker! Thanks.
 
LFD said:
Thanks AnShanDan - yes, it is in his hock. It's great to hear your girl has made a full recovery and from talking to other people it does sound like lots of R&R over a few years might be the key to my boy's recovery. He is only 6 so I'm holding out hope of him coming back into work - I'm not sure about show jumping again to the same level but you never know.

Is there any perticular care/treatment you used when your mare was first injured you would recommend?

Many thanks! L
Click to expand...

She was on box rest with walking for what seemed like ages, prob. 5 months+, it was a really snowy winter, so she couldn't even be walked out sometimes.

Her injury was operable, in that the bone chip was making it worse because it was unstable, but the downside to this was the ligaments were attached to the chip, so without it, the ligaments were gone. The stifle has 13 (?) ligaments, which is more than the human equivalent the knee, and the 2 she lost were mainly for stability of the joint.

The stifle is impossible to treat like a hock, so you can probably do a lot more than I could to reduce the inflammation. I didn't give her supplements etc. as I thought where would it end, I knew I'd have to give her at least 18 months-2 years off anyway.

I was paranoid about turning her out again, but she was fine.

It was time that fixed her, no one tried to do anything with her for 2.5 years, and she was turned out 24/7 for about a year initially.

Good luck, it's rubbish esp. when they are young, but time is on your side as well.
 
Sorry to hear about your horse, i had a lovely jumping mare who had 5 different problems diagnosed in one leg last year, unfortunately she had to be pts as we could not get her comfy enough to warrant keeping her alive. Good luck with your treatment, i hope you are covered under insurance as it can become very expensive and complicated!!!!
 
Wow - two and a half years is a long time but worth it if I could get the same results!

albiehumbug - so sorry to hear about your mare :-( I am insured so ok on that front.

I do wonder why we do it to ourselves sometimes, owning horses can bring the highest highs, but also the lowest lows.

They are worth it though!
 
LFD, so sorry to hear your bad news! You have the perfect attitude to this though, your heart is in the right place and you are doing everything right. As has been said in previous posts, just do everything and anything to aid healing and keep movement going to a level that he is comfortable with. I believe movement is essential for healing and to keep scar tissue from forming tightly etc. Ice is brilliant and maybe magnetic therapy in a while too! Dont hang on every word the vet says, I have heard on far too many occasions horses being written off or given a poor prognosis for a spell in the field without shoes to bring them back sound again! And I mean many many occasions. Horses have the ability to heal just as we do. Dont write him off just yet! Your attitude and love will go a long way to getting your boy back and healthy. It may be a long road, but time is a great healer and you will get so much from each little positive result. Its a heartbreaking journey, but also a very rewarding one. You will get closer than you thought possible throughout this journey and learn a lot too. Expect setbacks, they are normal, but dont give up hope. Honestly I wish you the very best of luck and please let us know how it goes! I look forward to hearing good news in a few months time. x
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top