Bone cysts - anyone have any experience with these?

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melr

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Hi I have a five year old IDxTB, been backed around five months. He has just been diagnosed with a large bone cyst in his short pastern bone where it articulates with the coffin joint. My vet and Liphook have looked at him and both are in agreement that his prognosis is guarded, they can't operate either because of where it is. He has just had his coffin joint medicated, and we will see what happens, but I wondered if anyone had any experience of this as no one seems to know too much about it and I am absolutely gutted as he is a lovely horse.
 
I have a 4 yo IDX mare, just backed that has been diagnosed with the same thing. The cyst is articular to the coffin joint but surrounded by bone so is inoperable. She has had 1 IV dose of Tildren and 3 months box rest. Now out in the field but remains 1/10 lame, worse on circle and hard ground. Bute has no effect on her. She also trips constantly.

Was wondering how yours got on? Was it cortisone or HA they injected?

I am considering cortisone into joint but vet isnt keen. Ideally I would like her denerved as she is sound when blocked and becomes a different horse, but vet wont do it as she isn't bad enough!
 
Unfortunately, I have some experience of surgery for a bone cyst on my 11 month old filly. She was crippled lame just 2 months after I bought her. X-rays showed a cyst on the lower edge of the pastern near the joint. The prognosis was poor - although her age is in her favour.

She went in for bone graft surgery at the beginning of July. I understand there are only about 3 places in the country who will attempt surgery in the pastern as it is so rare and has an increased risk of arthritis. My surgeon ended up just debriding/scraping out the cyst and injecting it with steroids to try to stimulate the bonemarrow to grow new bone. He was happy that her bones were so hard that the graft was not necessary which was a huge relief at the time.

After 6 weeks box rest she is back out in the field but I wont know whether it has worked for several months yet. If this surgery doesnt work we have talked about fusing the joint as a next option which seems very drastic but if it makes her sound and gives her a chance of a relatively normal life we will have to do it.

I had my first horse denerved when he was 5 because the vets wanted to PTS due to high and low ringbone. He went on to live to nearly 29 and I was able to hack him as he wasnt stumbly with it. I didnt think de-nerving was legal in this country now though?

I am so sorry to hear that your horses have had a bone cyst diagnosis. This has been a crushing blow to me with my filly and it has been a horrible year. I hope your vets are able to refer you to a specialist orthopaedic surgeon who can help your horses.
 
Sorry to hear about your horse, sounds a real shame- my horse had a bone cyst on his fetlock a few years ago-it certainly isn't always doom and gloom- he had the joint medicated twice with Adequan and was box rested with controlled exercise either in hand/ ridden walking (which was fun!!) for about 8 weeks, within a few months he was back in full work and competing and it never has caused him any further problems (touch wood as I'm typing this!)

Will never know how he got it, probably as a result of hooning around the field or could even have been from as a foal.

Feel free to send a PM if you would like any more info and good luck.
 
My horse was operated on for a massive bone cyst in his shoulder joint at Liphook 5 years ago (David Lloyd and Tim Phillips) His prognosis was very guarded, however although it was a long and expensive journey its worth every penny as he is sound and doing well in the show ring now.
 
Quick update- Ava was re xrayed today and there is no changes to cyst. I suppose this is good cos it hasn't got any bigger. There are also no arthitic changes in the joint which is also good:)

However she remains lame:(
Vet wants 2 more months paddock rest and if she is the same then he will explore upper neurectomy for her (if insurance will pay)!

So kinda mixed but I've decided to persevere for now.

Any other updates?
 
Yes. Just to say that my yearling filly who had her debridement surgery in July has been sound for about 4 months now. Xrays have showed that the hole in her pastern has filled in really nicely and my vet flexion tested her yesterday and she stayed sound.

I would strongly recommend debridement if your horse is young enough. I dont think cysts in the pastern normally get better with rest and the longer you leave it the higher the risk of arthritic changes in the joint. Also it is worth bearing in mind that your insurance will only cover you for 12 months after first diagnosis.

I hope Ava is on the mend soon. Good luck.
 
Hi,
How has you horse got on?
I am in the exact same boat with you and my boy. He was diagnozed two years back, living in heartbars and touch wood, sound and working well.
 
Hi - my 8year old gelding was diagnosed back in October with a bone cyst in his pastern.
He is going for surgery next week for debridement, though it may be that it won't be entirely straightforward...
There is a risk that the "drilling" could detach a piece of bone; the exact location of the cyst will be pinpointed by MRI scan on Monday so we'll know more. If it's in a dodgy area, the plan is to fuse using metal implants. These will act as a splint in the area, to strengthen, but they will also take the pressure off and stop movement in the area where the cyst is - so it's my understanding that debridement won't take place then...
He'll wear a cast for a few weeks, then box rest for at least 6weeks, with in hand walking thereafter. I've been told that his recovery will be 4-6months.
But he can't be ridden otherwise - this is his best chance at getting sound.
I'll update when he's had the MRI.
Hope everyone else's stories have had good outcomes.
 
Mine had bone cyst on stifle, diagnosed back in December 2013, had one injection along with draining (was inflamed) in dec 2013 after which came sound, then had further injection in july and adequan (sp) injections. All seemed good up until hunted, Nov 2014 three tenths lame so had op to debride and I have vet out tomorrow for 6 week post op checkup and further injection. He seems much improved but haven't trotted him up since op as on rest. Vet seemed hopeful and stupid horse still wanted to hunt and jump even when 3 tenths lame. Worry is that as soon as I ask for more from him such as hunting or jumping will go lame again.

Vet also advised synequin but hard to tell if has made a difference with everything else going on !

The good news OP is that the prognosis is always better the younger the horse is (mine is 11 so that isn't in his favour)
 
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