confused re tendon trouble

[beaconhorse]

Ok Firstly I apologise if this is my fault (probably is!!) But in my defence the same vet scanned 2 horses at my old yard, told owners they were fine, then several days later the practice calls them to say another vet had found a problem and not to ride them until seen again.


Had a call from my friend saying please meet vet as Brit (4yr old Welsh cob) has hurt her hock, probable kick but I can't get to meet him

I arrive and there is obviously signs of swelling (capped hock) Someone has hosed it for 45min and it is now a lot smaller than it was.

Vet arrives and is told the following

hock was also swollen on the inside with veins showing up REALLY BAD
was badly lame, leg seems also to get stuck at certain points in the movement

There are no signs of kicks, or puncture wounds (vet confirms)

He spends 40 mins poking and proding then flexion tests He said 'oh she is not quite right'

Pokes and prods for another 20 mins. So I finally say 'would you agree it seems more mechanical than pain related. This seemed to have the effect of turning a light on in his head he starts poking some more but this time with more purpose.

Then finally says I think she slipped the Gastrocnemius tendon off the back of her hock and then its gone back again.

That makes sense too me as that fits with what the girls thought was a vein on the inside of the hock ?? also could account for the difference in lameness/swelling in such a short time

BUT

I thought the Gastrocnemius finished at the hock and it was the SDF that went down the back?? Not even sure you would really call the Gastrocnemius a tendon?? I thought it was more fibrous muscle ??


Also does what he says make sense?? if so any idea on prognosis My poor friend is the one who lost her 3 year old WC to mouth cancer, and a few weeks ago found out her mom is dying from cancer too!! so she really doesn't need this

 

[spaniel]

Yes you are right the gastrocnemius muscle does insert at the hock on a very powerful tendon (the Achilles) which you can feel just above the hock itself. The tendon that runs over the hock is the superficial flexor.

 

[aran]

A friends horse came in with a capped hock (no sign of a kick/bang etc). She was lame and I said that she should get it referred immediately to the RVC for xrays and scans. It turned out that she had a tear in the gastrocnemius tendon which communicated with calcaneal bursa. The SDFT was fine. It is a really rare injury and on the ultrasound scan was amazing to view. The common calcaneal tendon (achilles) is composed of both branches of the gastrocnemius (this muscle has 2 head and therefore 2 tendons) tendon and the SDFT. The gastrocnemius tendons insert on the hock whereas the SDFT continues down the limb to insert on the middle phalanx (pastern).

This horse was boxed rested (ice bandaged 2x per day for 20 mins) and only when the scans showed good infilling of the lesion and fibre alignment was she allowed to be paddock rested. She is now back in light work and hopefully will continue to improve. The prognosis is guarded as it is a rare occurance.

 

[beaconhorse]

thanks both of you will pass it on Although have a horrid feeling she is going to turn the mare out