Hind suspensory rehab - Experience

[sprite1978]

Well what week....My horse has damaged the splint bone in his Hind leg and has put down a lot of new bone to try and stabalise it. In other words its like a very large splint. So he is going to have surgery this afternoon to remove the lower 3rd of the splint bone. The complication is, that the pressure from the new bone has had an effect on the suspensory ligament. Suspensory desmitis??? He is probably in some of the best hands in the country, so I`m quietly confident he`s got the best chance. The surgery will be followed up by a platelet rich injection into the ligamant in a few weeks time.

Has anyone got any experience of rehab and prognosis for suspensory issues?

Also any tips for keeping a TB on box rest occupied will be well received!!!

 

[ladyt25]

Well, no real experience as in the end result but my sister's horse us currently part way through his box/restricted paddock turnout for high suspensory desmitis. His is chronis though we are told as he stated slightly lame in April but nothing was really discovered til August time so they think it may have been niggling for a while.

The vets said that the high suspensory damage has a better prognosis than the lower one where the branches of the ligament are affected and my sisters horse is to be walked in hand every day for 15 mins or so and now can also be ridden in walk (introducing trot now) for 15 to 20 mins.

He's not been too bad to manage as is quite chilled although he can get mildly frustrated! I think the fact he can go out in a small paddock (about double stable size) in the day has helped a bit as well. He officially has another month or so doing this routine but as we're going to be in Dec then it is quite likely he may still be on restricted t/o until the spring (he would normally be stabled at night anyway through the winter).

My sister has bought him one of those treat balls that he quite likes and he has some likits in his stables (not so bothered about them). I think in the main most horses are fine providing they have some food but, if yours is particularly stressy then getting some things to 'entertain' him may help a little.

 

[Pat10]

I have a horse who had both hind proximal suspensory ligaments operated on. He is with me to keep him in work (as his owner can't). Although he's a little stiff when he first comes out, he's completely sound once warmed up. He now is doing a bit of unaffiliated dressage, and getting super comments for his paces.

 

[sprite1978]

Thanks...I`m just keen that he does have a job to do at the end of this as he is only 5. The ligament damage is approximately in line with the lower third of the splint bone. I`m not sure if pronosis is hugely different depending on the position.