Hock arthroscopy

[AandK]

My 6yo is having the above procedure mid-September for a bone chip in one of his hocks. In the meanwhile, I was wondering if anyone who has a horse that has had the same op, and if you could share your experience of the post-op recovery/rehab please? I'm expecting 2 weeks box rest until the stitches come out, based on previous op experience, but that was for a ligament issue so after that I am not sure what to expect. I know I will get this info from the vet when I drop him off, but as that is not for a couple of weeks, I am just curious to hear of people's experience. Thank you!

 

[Tash88]

Following as my horse is having a stifle arthroscopy next week. Best wishes for your boy x

 

[AandK]

Following as my horse is having a stifle arthroscopy next week. Best wishes for your boy x

Thank you, he is booked in for 17th Sept. Fingers crossed for your boy for next week! Hopefully someone can share their experience, if not I will update post op.

 

[V&F]

My pony had hock arthoscopy on his near side hock (for arthritis) around 4 weeks ago.

He was at the hospital for a week in total.

Came home with a nice fancy bandage which My vet changed/checked switches etc a few days later.

He had the stitches out around a week later (2 x tiny stitches)

Our rehab plan is as follows:
Week 1 - box rest with hand grazing
Week 2 - box rest with 2 x 5 min walks
Week 3 - box rest with 2 x 5 min walks
Week 4 - box rest with 2 x 10 min walks
Week 5 - small paddock turnout for around a month

He has to have 2 x sachets of bute per day up until around December time when the vet is going see how he’s doing.

Can’t say it’s been a walk in the park but hopefully it will all be worth it

 

[AandK]

Thanks V&F. Hopefully your rehab goes to plan!

 

[V&F]

Thanks V&F. Hopefully your rehab goes to plan!

Thank you It hasn’t gone too badly (so far) he did manage to snap the metal part on the lead rope one of the days and went for a little merry canter around until he found some juicy grass

Since then sedaline has been our best friend!!

Hope everything goes to plan with yours

 

[AandK]

Just to update for anyone who searches for similar in future. My horse had his arthroscopy on 17th Sept and the bone chip turned out to be a non event, it is apparently part of the bone, an anomaly that some horses have and so nothing to worry about. What they did find, was damage to his lateral collateral ligament, which fits with the symptoms and when I first noticed the swelling. He had the ligament cleaned up and some micro-picking of the cartilage, although there was minimal damage thankfully. The op went to plan, but unfortunately he somehow damaged his tail and also the GA affected his gut so he was back in the vets after less than 2 days at home with an impacted caecum. Fortunately he didn't need more surgery and was home after another 4 day stay.
With regards to his hock injury, he had his stitches out after 2 weeks and then was on pen rest with 15min daily in-hand walks for 6 weeks. Then he went back to the vets for a scan, assesment and to have the hock medicated (HA and small dose of steroid), all looked okay so he was allowed to move to a small paddock for 7-8 weeks, no daily walk needed unless he was not moving around much in the paddock.
He went back again to the vets on 16th Dec for another scan and assessment, and they were again very pleased with his progress. Lameness had reduced from Oct (2/10 to 1/10) and scan shows the ligament healing nicely. He is now back out in the big field as normal for 2 months field rest. They then want to see him again for another scan and assessment, and to medicate the joint again, before I can get back on him and start to bring him back into work. The surgeon has given him a good prognosis for a full return to work, assuming he continues to progress as he has and is sound in February.

I've added some pics below of how his hock looked, he was barely lame under saddle. Although it has been a rough few months for him, I am glad I went with the op. The other option was to medicate the hock, but I wanted to give him the best chance of long term soundness. If I had of chosen that route, vet advised that chances are the ligament would have completely ruptured at some point as I increased his workload, which is a scary thought!