DDFT Injury- Still Pointing!

[morgan4eva]

One of the horses was diagnosed with DDFT inflammation where it adheres to the pedal bone. This was diagnosed by Fellowes Farm Huntingdon using scintigraphy.XRays showed no boney changes and prognosis given was guarded (as always with tendons) but very positive. He had cartrofen, shock wave treatment and eggbar shoes and after about 4 months of box rest he is sound and rehab has started, limited turnout and walking in hand at first but now ridden. He still appears sound (only seen trotting in the field) but he is still pointing. This seemed to have stopped when he was on box rest (or I didnt notice it not sure). Anyone with similar experience could you tell me if this is worrying or should I "suck it and see".

 

[hellybelly6]

My horse split his DDFT in his hind and damaged the cartilage in his fetlock. Being a hind leg, he didnt point, but he always rested the leg. Its over 18 months now, and he still rests this leg more than the other one. He had raised eggbars for 3 months.

It sounds like you are doing everything right and I think it is worth sucking and seeing.

I fed my horse tendoneaze and used magnotherapy boots too.

He is now back to his pre-injury status and it was not thought he would be able to potter around the field without pain.

 

[RachelB]

Mine is as sound as she is ever going to be (she looks pottery in front, but she always had a short stride anyway and I don't think she looks any less sound than she was before the injury) and she still points occasionally. She tore her DDFT on February 4th 2007. She had four and a half months of box rest, and was turned away from July 2007 for about a year. She has had trouble with seedy toe after that but has just started constant work (pending soundness

)
Personally I think it's either a habit of hers or she is expecting it to hurt as it did for so long. As long as she's sound she will keep working!

 

[morgan4eva]

Thank you that makes me feel better about it - I am sure you know how obsessive it becomes!

 

[fay4]

My lad had very similar injuries but did come right in the end so stick with it! He ended up having about 18 months off and then slowly brought him back into work!.

Unfortunately he started pointing the other front leg Feb time and was very stiff. Ended up going to vets and this time there were bony changes in the coffin joint etc.... He's been rested again and was on cosequin and has stopped pointing about 4 weeks ago. Last week I rode him only for 10min and was sound but have to say was dreading the next day as thats really when it shows it's ugly head! but touch wood fine!
I have to say that when my lad points I know that hes uncomfortable and therefore not ridden.

I honstly think it's a matter of time so please stick with it.
How long has this been going on for you?
Fay

 

[morgan4eva]

He first went lame at the beginning of March. Had 4 weeks box rest and anti inflammatories, then was sound on the straight but lame on one rein when lunged on a hard small circle. Then had scintigraphy and treatment and box rest until beginning of Aug, then begun walking in hand and then some turnout in limited area etc etc.

 

[shirley123]

hi shauna
i posted a post not unlike this some weeks ago. my horse damaged his collateral ligaments - one in each front foot. he is now on mth 8 of re-hab and still points - but only about 5% of the time now . when we first started re-hab he pointed 90% of the time while stood outside his stable. ( never points while on him) the pointing has on less and less and time gone on. he has had regular vet checks. got the go ahead for canter in june and had a big reduction of pointing. i wouder if its because adhesion are being broken down?? i dont know

but i watch him like a hawk

. see if you can find my old post. hopefully he will start standing better as time goes on. ligaments take easily 12mths to repair. good luck