books - tendon injuries and rehab

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wjgfred

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Hi,

For those of you who I have not pestered yet, my poor beastie has a tendon injury and problems with the collateral ligament.

I have spent hours on the internet researching this, but cannot seem to get the information that I want. (Just ended up tired and late for work !!).

Has anyone read any good books on the subject of tendon injuries or rehabilitation concepts and programs.

Thanks
 
So sorry about your horse, you sound desperate.

Have you phoned an equine clinic for advice or for referral?

Im into tendons atm, but dont know much about collateral tendons.

Why dont you e-mail Prof. Derek Knottenbelt. I say this because if I was clutching at straws and had exhausted all other avenues, at least I know that he would pull out all the stops to advise me personally. What he doesnt know would fit on the back of a matchbox.
 
My horse had damage to the collateral ligaments and to the DDFT - is this the tendon you mean? If so, it's a common combination causing intermittent chronic lameness and generally diagnosed by MRI.

Key to recovery is perfect hoof balance and my horse was put back together by an Equine Podiatrist with a DAEP qualification (KC LaPierre school). This is the barefoot method, and in the right hands it's a proven approach to recovery of structure in the foot.

PM me if it would help to compare scans or anything.
 
Hi,

Thanks for your replies, I will try to explain a bit more in the hope that someone can help.

My horse has been diagnosed with a core lesion to DDFT which has progressed to saggital plane split and evidence of damage to collateral ligaments of coffin joint.

This was via MRI. He has had box rest for 2 months with walking in hand. Then it was stated 12 months field rest. Also cartrophen and adequan injections. All the tendon damage is near to navicular so can only see with MRI.

I am happy that I am doing everything possible. Foot balance checked with x-ray every 3 months, best farrier ever (olympic farrier), and also equine nutritionist advised supliments.

However he is now on month 3 of 12 months field rest and has been sound for 4 months in walk and trot on straight (everything else untested).

I have read loads of papers on tendon and collateral injuries and they all suggest that a VERY SLOW rehab program is better than complete field rest. Before everyone shouts what I mean by this is 20 min in hand walking progressing about 5 mins a week to 60 mins then 20 mins ridden etc..

I was originally given a 30 per cent chance of getting this horse back into work. He is too fab to become a field ornament.

He was seen by fully qualified equine oesteopath last week who said he is doing excellent, is sound with no signs of problems in neck (he was previously holding himself up off front feet by using neck). She said I have a 50% plus chance as he is doing so well and she fully supports the slow rehab program side of things.

I would not do anything without the say so of my vet, and this is not all about me riding as soon as possible. If someone could show me evidence that it would be better to leave Freddie in the field I would do that.

This is why I am trying to find out a bit more before I speak to the vet again. Freddie is due for review in 2 weeks time. The vet did agree to me walking him in hand for 20 mins a day and I am doing this. He is currently out for 16 hours and in during the day.

Any thoughts !!
 
The papers and books I read suggested that walking out was better than box rest, not necessarily better than field rest. Field rest is usually reserved for the very worst injuries, and is used on the assumption that the horse will then be performing its own gentle walking work.
I would just talk to the vet TBH, all the research in the world done by the owner cannot replace the advice of an excellent vet who knows the horse.
 
Thanks for your comments Silmarillion and I appreciate what you are saying.

However the papers I have read are direct comparisons between groups of horses on field rest only and those walking out. The results were far far better for those on the rehab program otherwise I wouldnt be looking to take this up with my vet.

I also do understand how serious the injuries to my horse are and there were far worse on some of these research programs.

Whilst my vet is an excellent horse vet, he is after all a general practisoner and I accept that he cannot know everything about every particular injury. Also with MRI having only been accessable to us mere mortals for a short time, the vets by there own admission are learning everyday. My horses injury would not have been diagnosed prior to MRI.

With regard to my vet knowing my horse, so does my oesteopath who has been involved with him whilst he was in full work. She is fully supportive of the rehab program, so I am sure you can see my dilema.

I actually originally posted this to see if anyone could recommend any books so I could see if these backed the research I have already found
 
Try googling information about hydrotherapy spas and Professor Evan Hunt. He was involved with some of the desing work on spas and as such did research into tendon injuries. As he has since put his name to the hydrothrapy spa I would summarise that he found the spa and controlled exercise to be the best option to go for.

I have on email 2 proposed treatment plans as set out by Professor Hunt for the treatment of tendon injuries in the spa. Whilst the document is not specifically what you are looking for I would be more than happy to email it to you. If you PM me your email address I can forward it on.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I actually originally posted this to see if anyone could recommend any books so I could see if these backed the research I have already found

[/ QUOTE ]
The thing with books is that by the time they are published they are usually already out of date
frown.gif

Books are (supposed to be) written based on the research carried out anyway, so if you have access to research papers I think you'll find yourself in a much better position to argue your point with your vet
smile.gif
 
hi my horse was diagnosed in nov 07 with damaged collateral ligaments of the coffin joint - the medial in one, the lateral in the other. one had a core leison the other a sprain.. after 4 weeks box rest we started on hand walking gradually increasing the time. in march started ridden walking ( how very dangerous was that !!!) started trot in may and got the go ahead for canter in july. i took the advise of my very good vet who speacialises in lamenesses. this was backed up with my own research and a very good forum in the u.s.a called chronicle of the horse forum. it appears that gradual re-hab is the best as the ligaments need gentle repetative stress on good firm surfaces. this is what i have been doing and up to now all o.k. one point though that i have come across time and time again and my vet was VERY strict about this is no unrestricted turnout allowed. my horse is still turned out in a 10meter x 10 meter paddock. a good book is "back to work" i read it again and again for advise. hope this helps
 
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