digitalangel
Well-Known Member
Hi, i thought i would document my experience with Hock OCD for anyone who might want to google in the future to know what to expect/etc in terms of recovery. We are almost 2 weeks in now, so i will keep updating this as time goes on.
My horse is a 6 and a half year old DWB who was broken as a 5 year old. He was diagnosed with Bilateral ocd of the hock after presenting with a small swelling on the inside of his left hind hock which appeared during/after exercise and disappeared the day after exercise. He was sound throughout lameness workup but mildly positive to flexion. X-rays revealed 2 large OCD chips, with the RH chip migrated to the bottom of the joint. He had the most common kind of OCD chip, and they were fairly sizeable.
Arthroscopy was performed 3 days later and he had a period of 5 days at the vets. Surgery took around 3 hours. He was in Robert Jones bandages for 8 days.
He was walked daily at the vets for 5 minutes. The most noticeable thing about the bandages is that he found walking backwards very difficult so he almost hopped backwards and would also stretch his legs out a lot. This is apparently normal. He lay down for the first time 7 days after surgery. Bandages came off the next day.
Rehab began immediately upon coming home and consist of 2 5 min daily hand walks twice a day. Antibiotics ( tremetheprim ) were given daily for 5 days, along with 14 days of bute.
While bandages are off but stitches are still in, the wounds are cleaned twice daily with hibiscrub diluted, and then Derma Gel applied over the site as there is some chafing to the inside of the hock due to the bandages but its minor.
Tuesday the stiches come out - so the wound will be closed but the inside of the hock is still healing. for the next month his rehab will still be 2 5 minute walks twice daily, with turnout in a sand/rubber pen 15mx15m for a few hours a day. If i didnt have this pen he would be on box rest.
1 month after stitches out, he will be able to be turned out in a small field, and ridden walk can begin. I will keep updating this thread, and i hope others find it useful.
My horse is a 6 and a half year old DWB who was broken as a 5 year old. He was diagnosed with Bilateral ocd of the hock after presenting with a small swelling on the inside of his left hind hock which appeared during/after exercise and disappeared the day after exercise. He was sound throughout lameness workup but mildly positive to flexion. X-rays revealed 2 large OCD chips, with the RH chip migrated to the bottom of the joint. He had the most common kind of OCD chip, and they were fairly sizeable.
Arthroscopy was performed 3 days later and he had a period of 5 days at the vets. Surgery took around 3 hours. He was in Robert Jones bandages for 8 days.
He was walked daily at the vets for 5 minutes. The most noticeable thing about the bandages is that he found walking backwards very difficult so he almost hopped backwards and would also stretch his legs out a lot. This is apparently normal. He lay down for the first time 7 days after surgery. Bandages came off the next day.
Rehab began immediately upon coming home and consist of 2 5 min daily hand walks twice a day. Antibiotics ( tremetheprim ) were given daily for 5 days, along with 14 days of bute.
While bandages are off but stitches are still in, the wounds are cleaned twice daily with hibiscrub diluted, and then Derma Gel applied over the site as there is some chafing to the inside of the hock due to the bandages but its minor.
Tuesday the stiches come out - so the wound will be closed but the inside of the hock is still healing. for the next month his rehab will still be 2 5 minute walks twice daily, with turnout in a sand/rubber pen 15mx15m for a few hours a day. If i didnt have this pen he would be on box rest.
1 month after stitches out, he will be able to be turned out in a small field, and ridden walk can begin. I will keep updating this thread, and i hope others find it useful.
unfortunately had to have a 3yo oldenburg pts on Friday with hock OCD. It was quite bad and most likely wouldn't respond well to operation. She turned very vicious and would kick/bite through pain and just lay down or rested leg, was horrible to watch so just had to go. Rest in peace Mia Donna 
