Annular Ligament injury & Arcequine?

J

Judeyt

New User
Joined
8 August 2017
Messages
4
Visit site
Hi

Hoping someone can help as I'm feeling pretty heartbroken right now! Does anyone have any experience of using Arcequine to treat an annular ligament injury? My horse has been diagnosed with thickening of his palmar annular ligament which is constricting his tendon sheath causing pain and lameness. We’ve tried box rest which he found very stressful as he has always lived out and then turn out for part of the day in a very small pen as a compromise. He came sound again and the vet advised to gradually bring him back into work. He remained sound in walk for the first 4 weeks but as soon as we reintroduced very short bursts of trot he very quickly became lame again (within 2 days). He went back to the vets for more scans and nerve blocks, following which I was advised that his annular ligament had thickened to around 6cm (they said it should normally be 3cm). They did not see any other damage to the tendon but did say the scans can’t pick up everything.

They gave him a steroid injection into his tendon sheath and he is up to 40 min walking out now and is sound in walk. He is 1/10 lame in trot. I have been advised that the steroid injection is a temporary measure and that the best chance of recovery is for him to have an operation to cut the ligament. However I am really concerned that because he gets so stressed being stabled (lunges and kicks at the door every time another horse moves in or out of their stable, sweats up, paces, refuses to eat etc) that he won’t cope with the box rest afterwards (I think about 6 weeks). So I am looking at other options. I've read lots of good things about Arcequine but no case studies where it has been used to treat this issue. Does anyone have any advice? He's my one in a million horse and I just can't accept retiring him without trying everything possible! Thanks in advance
 
my pony had the surgery and has been sound since but it was a long recovery due to a detached manica. Eventually put her in foal (not an option fo yours I know) but the 18 months unridden did the trick and she is 100% back to normal not had much to do with the injections but can say that the surgery cured her eventually
 
Turned my mare away for 14 months after annular ligament injury. She had 4 holes. Declined surgery as she was 17 and hates stabling. She's now a happy hacker. She's slightly short striding in trot due to the thickening.
 
My horse had the surgery and it was the best thing I have done, he recovered quickly and was back in a small paddock after 4 weeks . Steroid injection only lasted 2 months. Can you not build a small pen to turn him out?
 
I have an arcequine, and I believe it has helped my horse immensly. There is a thread in the vet section, where I have posted my experience re annular ligament injury and the op with my now 20yo. He had his op just over 2yrs ago (11/08/15) and is now back in full work, including jumping. He was only on 2 weeks box rest until stitches came out and then went into a pen for 6 weeks with controlled walking (in hand to start then under saddle). If box rest is an issue at your current yard, could you look for a rehab yard where there is less coming and going for him to settle?

Here is the thread: http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...endon-sheath-Annular-ligament-desmotomy-query
 
Hi. Yes thanks the small pen is an option. He's in a smallish pen now. That's good to know turnout was possible after 2 weeks. It's just that I think even the two weeks box rest would be too much for him. We managed 4 days when the problem first came to light but he basically stopped eating and drinking and was lathered in sweat and I didn't sleep!
 
Thank you A and k that's good to know. ( I did do a search but that didn't pop up -newbie!) Glad your horse is on the mend. I think the op has to be a last resort for us. I want to see if the arcequine will make a difference to him in the meantime. Not sure if I am clutching at straws
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top