DDFT tear near navicular

[cgoff]

Hey, so I can see there are multiple threads on here about this type of injury but I’m struggling to relate mine to most.
My mare was eventing fit but then when slightly off in may 17, went through vet examination due to hard ground suggested it was concussion so treated with x2 steroid injection 6weeks off and come back into light work in August. Vet signed her off to go back out wventkng. Did x3 more ODE’s nothing picked up, but the last one I felt a jiggle at the end of XC, got her home she was lame again. Vet referred to Rossdales for MRI in dec 17 which located a small tear on her DDFT (report below).
He suggested turning her away and said she won’t event again, it wouldn’t never heal properly due to taking her back into work. I had a 40% chance of being 100% sound. She may do dressage up to novice maybe eliminatory and sj up to 1.10m. Bet you thinking well that still sounds good, but she is an Eventer that’s what she lives for and our goal was 2* so it’s not the same.
I could do the traditional box rest as she’s wouldn’t calm down even with sedalin, tried restricted grazing again went nuts so just turn her away for the winter. And bought an ARC equine to see if that could help. She was brought back into work in may 18 gentle walk x3 times a week for 20 mins for a month, power walk month 2 then trot month 3 and canter month 4. I’ve avoided all hard ground where possible and tried to keep her sane well as much as I can. I’m debating getting her rescanned to see if anything can be medicated to get us back out eventing as both bored, but she shows the odd step in trot which could be taken for bridle lameness. Anyone got any success stories for an injury in the particular area? I’m worried about any effects on the navicular bone itself.

Clinical History:


Left fore lameness localised to the foot.

MRI Findings:


Left fore:
⇒ Dorsal irregularity of the medial lobe of the DDFT proximal to the navicular bone with abnormal signal on all sequences extending into the substance of the tendon. The lesion measures approx. W10mm/L18mm/D3mm.
⇒ Soft tissue intensity material causes a filling defect in the sagittal part of the proximal reflection of the navicular bursa. Fluid intensity material moderately distends the collateral recesses.
⇒ Severe enlargement of the sagittal part of the collateral sesamoidean ligament.
⇒ Rounding of the palmaroproximal border of the navicular bone. Moderate modelling of the distal border.
⇒ Mixed signal intensity in the spongiform bone of the navicular bone including on STIR images.
⇒ The impar ligament is thickened axially. Moderate sclerosis of the palmar compact bone is a feature at the DSIL attachment.
⇒ Moderate subchondral bone sclerosis of the coffin joint and mild to moderate periarticular modelling of the coffin joint.
Right fore:
⇒ The DDFT has a largely normal appearance.
⇒ Fluid intensity material moderately distends the collateral recesses.
⇒ Mild enlargement of the sagittal part of the collateral sesamoidean ligament.
⇒ Moderate modelling of the distal border of the navicular bone.
⇒ The impar ligament is thickened axially. Mild sclerosis of the palmar compact bone is a feature at the DSIL attachment.
⇒ Moderate subchondral bone sclerosis of the coffin joint and mild to moderate periarticular modelling of the coffin joint.

 

[Polonaise]

Hi, firstly sorry for your situation.
The MRI findings are very typical findings in competition horses with foot lameness. Traditional management (remedial shoes, joint injections careful work etc) can certainly make them more comfortable for a while and slow the progression but are unlikely to result in a full recovery.
In my opinion the best chance of getting these horses back to where they were is to look into barefoot management. It can be hard work and for eventing relies on having a reasonably balanced horse that will cope without studs (most do better in bad going unshod but there's a few who never quite cope with the transition). Unfortunately there's a lot of dodgy trimmers and armchair experts out there so it's a bit of a minefield. I would recommend finding someone to advise that has a track record of rehabbing competition horses. Rockley Farm has a success rate of approximately 80% return to work for "caudal hoof lameness", some of those horses are competing regularly BE/BD and many are hunters in full work.