Bilateral Stifle Arthroscopy

[Louisejane]

Can anyone tell me what to expect recovery wise? Our boy is booked in next week to look at suspected cartilage damage and the more I look, the more horror stories I hear!

Advice, hints tips and experiences would be very welcome!

 

[Dynamo]

Can anyone tell me what to expect recovery wise? Our boy is booked in next week to look at suspected cartilage damage and the more I look, the more horror stories I hear!

Advice, hints tips and experiences would be very welcome!

It kind of depends on what they find, but assuming it is cartilage damage, the recovery time isn't quick. I think ours had something like three months of box rest, with gradually increasing walking in hand, and then three months of paddock rest before a long rehab period and returning to full work. There was also a process of gold injections to stimulate healthy regrowth of cartilage, during the box rest period. Ultimately it didn't work out for the long term and the horse was PTS earlier this year, two years after restarting work, and hadn't been sound for about the last year. Sorry not to have a more positive story to tell, but it was definitely worth all the effort and box rest to give him the chance he deserved.