Arthiritis in proximal intertarsal joint (upper hock bones)

[Birker2020]

Has anyone here heard of injections of corticosteroids in the upper bones of the hock? From having a quick look at an anatomy diagram I believe this is the proximal intertarsal joint. Normally the lower hock bones are involved with bone spavin and normal procedure is to medicate these with steroid/HA.

The ethanol hock fusion my horse had some 18 months ago appears to have worked as flexion tests proved no marked difference in a trot up, but it looks like there is a possibility that the arthritis may have gone upwards to the upper hock bones. My horse is going into the clinic next Friday for x-rays to ascertain why he is two to four tenths lame on this limb and if this is the cause then there is a possibility he can receive steroid into this area (intra articular injection I think its called).

Has anyone had this done? Or are you a vet and can you tell me anymore information about this process and what the prognosis is for a return to unaffiliated jumping/fun rides?

He is 16, has received three lots of Tildren, about five years ago, and the ethanol fusion 18months ago, this new lameness has suden come about, he is very stiff/lame when first trotted from a walk, but only very slightly lame when worked when the 'stiffness' has dissapeared. It takes about half a lap of the school (100 metres) of trotting before he is 'sound/stiffness has worn off' when ridden but he is quite unlevel on the right rein still. The vets told me to continue riding (but no jumping) until he is seen next Friday. I took him for a canter round the field last night as the going was quite good and the grass long and soft and also took him in the school and he was sound afterwards but not so good when rested and then moved. This morning he was stiffer than normal but not lame as such.

Many thanks.

 

[Birker2020]

**BUMP**

 

[gunnergundog]

Hi......it's normally the lower (distal) joints that get injected in this country in my experience, but in the USA my friend's vet administers three jabs per hock; two for the lower joints and one for the top, so it definitely is possible.

Have you discussed IRAP with your vet? Not sure if appropriate as the feeling I get is that they seem to use it earlier on rather than later in the onset of osteoarthritis, however, maybe worth the conversation to ensure that you aren;t missing anything.

 

[Birker2020]

Hi......it's normally the lower (distal) joints that get injected in this country in my experience, but in the USA my friend's vet administers three jabs per hock; two for the lower joints and one for the top, so it definitely is possible.

Have you discussed IRAP with your vet? Not sure if appropriate as the feeling I get is that they seem to use it earlier on rather than later in the onset of osteoarthritis, however, maybe worth the conversation to ensure that you aren;t missing anything.

Thank you. Will speak to the vet about this. Since 'bumping' this post again I have found quite a bit of information relating to the upper hock joints. When I found out they were called 'proximal hock joint' and I put these words in the information came flooding in on Google!!