Annular Ligament injuries.

[showjump]

So had vet yesterday (see post further down) and my horse could of injured his annular ligament. Ive done a search and found so useful info, but just wondered what your horses showed. Eg lameness, swelling, heat??

Incase you havent read my other posts. Hes just not quite right behind, but only when asked to go forwards. (abit short) He is fine on the hard ground.

Just hope he hasnt injured it, so i guess just trying get some info, i have never known a horse with this problem.

Oh and also shortest to longest time out of action would be goo too. (Just to depress myself further!)

 

[Booosh]

Depends on how bad the injury to the ligament is - have you had it scanned? Sometimes the deep flexor tendon sheath is damaged too but this can be assessed in a scan. I had a mare that had hers operated on and after box rest, walking in hand and months of getting her fit never came right and had to go for a brood mare

This is a worst case scenario so don't think this happens to them all!

 

[showjump]

Oh god, really stressing now!

No vet has said to hack only for 10 days, then if no change then take him in and nerve block. (with me riding inbetween them) and then scan i suppose.

Was your mare lame? See the vet said he was fine, until he trotted faster on the lunge, and it became apparent he was abit short behind.

Thanks for reply.

 

[emmah]

My oldie whos 23 had annular ligament problems they were contracted putting pressure on the other tendons and ligaments. She had had this for several years before it started to cause her any problems and she looked like she had wingalls but it was fluid that was built up because of the contraction. She had key hole surgery at 19 to have the annular ligament cut and was back in work within 8 weeks and continued working until she was 22 and had to retire due to heart problem not leg problems!! She is still 100% sound now and gallops and bucks around the field with the best of them

I wouldnt worry too much you have done the right thing by getting the vet so fingers crossed you will be back to normal in no time

 

[showjump]

Thanks. I just cannot get my head round it tbh, there is no swelling, heat, soreness. He just not quite right behind.

Oh well what will be will be i suppose. I just hope after the 10 days hacking he is back to normal.

Thanks.

 

[Booosh]

Doesn't sound as if yours is bad at all - mine had what looked like a windgall too and had the annular ligament cut with keyhole surgery she was never hopping lame just unlevel in front- did all the right things post op - was just very unfortunate that she was one of the ones that this did not work for - as I said it is worst case scenario so don't worry - I was told 85% them return to normal work as the previous posts did - just bad luck it didn't work for mine!

 

[FigJam]

[ QUOTE ]
My oldie whos 23 had annular ligament problems they were contracted putting pressure on the other tendons and ligaments. She had had this for several years before it started to cause her any problems and she looked like she had wingalls but it was fluid that was built up because of the contraction. She had key hole surgery at 19 to have the annular ligament cut and was back in work within 8 weeks and continued working until she was 22 and had to retire due to heart problem not leg problems!! She is still 100% sound now and gallops and bucks around the field with the best of them

[/ QUOTE ]

Showjump- sorry to crash your post, but emmah, I'm so pleased to read your post. As I mentioned on SJ's earlier post, my 17 year old mare's AL injury seems to have flared up again (original injury March 07) and we are looking at the possibility of doing the op you have mentioned. Her symptoms (windgall type swelling) are identical to your mare's. Fingers crossed if we go down that route we have the same success story you have had!

SJ- Hope the scan in a week or so helps pin point something and you get it all fixed.

 

[kizzywiz]

My pony did all 4 annular ligaments one after the other, she has some disorder which makes her break down her own collagen. The first leg also had damage to the tendon sheath, she had 6 months off, laser therapy & then 6 months walking before she was fully ok, then she did the other 3, & had surgery on them all, one op was for a diagonal pair of legs, each time John Walmsley advised me she may not be sound enough for dressage, each time he was wrong!! She came fully sound with a regime of 6 weeks box rest with in hand walking, then 6 weeks pen rest with ridden walking, then turn out & building up the fitness. She is 18 now & still competing up to elementary level dressage, & does little jumps on a nice surface for fun, I havn't jumped her competitively for some years in an effort to preserve her as she has other issues too, but I did before these other things turned up. Hope that helps, sorry if its a bit long!!