damage to collateral ligaments of distal interphalangeal joint

well not directly and it depends on how exensive the damage is but theoretically they will heal if given enough time/rest, ligaments are notoriously difficult to heal as they have quite a poor blood supply so i would think at least 9 months off would be needed, gentle exercise is good since it stimulates the blood supply but obv nothing that compromises the healing process.
 
I imagine you need rest, rest, more rest and a lot of luck. Anything to do with the distal interphalangeal (coffin) joint is not good as it is such a difficult area (being within the hoof capsule makes things much harder to diagnose and treat).
 
A horse i used to ride damaged the collateral ligaments around the fetlock, she was meant to have 3-6 months off work, could go in field though as out with one other quiet horse and she was sensible in the field. she only had 2 and a bit months off (bl**dy stubborn owner thought she knew best) but stayed pretty sound (owner thought she 100%, she didn't feel it all the time from on top but i didn't get much of a say!). As far as i know she is still sound (fell out with owner!).
I think it depends on the extent of the damage tbh, but as long as its given time to heal, theoretically it sound be ok
smile.gif
 
There are loads of threads on this if you do a search. My horse was diagnosed with this following MRI and was given a guarded to poor prognosis. He had 6 months box rest with extensive walking. Came pretty sound, but got LOU as he was insured to event and he was still slightly off on trot circle on hard and I was advised not to do any cross country with him. He returned to compete successfully at Dressage but unfortunaltely has other issues which are actually more a problem than his feet (back / sacroliliac)/ In fact it was eventually thought that the sacroiliac problem caused him the foot problem in the first place due to asymmetric weight placement so I would suggest a holistic approach. Foot balance is key. Get a good remedial farrier and do all the rest / slow work even if your horse seems sound. My horse is shod wide and long at the heel. hope this helps and good luck with your horse.
 
I've had the luck of having two horses diagnosed with it. Very different outcomes. The first one was 5yrs ago when the condition wasn't overly recognised as MRIs involved GA. Took a long time to diagnose and by the time diagnosis was received from Newmarket his ligament had completely ruptured and the coffin joint was collapsing. Sadly I took the decision to put him down, he was only 9yrs old. He was lame in walk in hand on 2 bute a day and we were advised it was a no hope situation.
This time round it took awhile to diagnose but the outlook is far more positive. Diagnosed just before Christmas and starting walk work this month. This time only chronic wear rather than a rupture.
In terms of treatment - turn away for anywhere between a period of six months to eighteen months (mine was already off work for three months before christmas). Steriod injections into coffin joints to help with associated inflammation. I tried shockwave treatment. Others are trying IRAP but the effects are still somewhat unknown.
Long term prognosis varies widely depending on the amount of damage. Unlikely to jump but some do. I'm hoping mine will return to hacking. It's a slow road to recovery but recently I've heard far more success stories than failures. If you need further info PM me.
 
My friends horse was diagnosed with a collateral ligamnet injury and was advised that though they can take a long time to heal, that if they do heal, the risk of reinjury was lower than say that of a tendon. He was on box/pen rest for about 4 months and being led out in hand in walk, then had about 2-3 months of being ridden in walk for twenty mins progressing to 30 mins, then after this was pronounced sound and allowed to go back into a graual fittening program, he is now walk, trotting and cantering out on hacks and she has just begun schooling him again. The whole process has taken since May last year but after following the vets advice, lots of hard work pen building and TLC and a bit of luck, he's doing well. Goo luck and hope this helps.
 
thank you.

We are waiting to see how he responds to remedial shoeing at the moment and if there is no improvement he is being sent for an MRI with the view that the ligaments could be the problem.

He is sound on a straight line, but 1/10 lame on right and 3/10 lame on left leg when lunged.
He was seen by the vets farrier and he said he has very poorly balanced feet, and is landing outside edge first on both feet. the farrier had to remove 3/4 of an inch off the outside of his feet.

Once he was shod by the vets farrier he looked better almost immediately. Wasnt throwing the leg out as much, but he wasnt lunged again as it was dark by this point. He is to go back in 6 weeks to get the lameness checked, shoes done again and then if still the same referred for MRI.

i think because they have had to take so much off his feet they are hoping it is more of a balance issue and he has merely strained something (probably in the left foot and the right is an over compensation)
He was sound with nerve block into the left joint and x-rays are clear for navicular/arthritis.

He is 4 so its a worry, but the way i am looking at it is he can have the next few years to recover slowly and not be any worse off in terms of training. Some horses arent backed till 5 so it will just be an extended turning away .
 
My mare is recovering from a ruptured medial collateral ligament (also coffin) at the mo, if you have any questions feel free to PM me, i may be of no use whatsoever but am happy to try and help!
tongue.gif

LW
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top