Kneecap slipped out of socket

[UnaB]

Had the vet out to my old boy today as i noticed him very lame last night with a large lump on his stifle. Anyway, looks like his kneecap has slipped out of the socket!!! Didnt even know that can happen in horses!

Its unlikely he will be riding sound again But the vets are going to look at options for treating him now (they'd never seen it before in an adult horse), at the moment he is on bute and I have to push the bone back into the socket when it pops out...!! Nice....!

Anyone heard of this before? Any success treating it in an adult horse? Insurance wont cover it on his veteran policy either - typical!!

 

[alsiola]

I would imagine this is upward fixation of the patella (UFP), rather than a true dislocation. It usually is found in youngsters with slack ligaments, and is often treatable simply by increasing work load. In an older horse this may also be the case if you have lightened his work recently. If possible, then increasing work concentrating on strengthening the hindquarters will be useful, e.g. hill work.
If this doesn't work, or if increasing work isn't possible for any reason, then there is a relatively simple operation to fix it. It involves cutting the medial patellar ligament, so it can no longer get stuck, and can often be done with standing sedation in a co-operative horse.
It's not really a painful condition as such, it just physically stops your horse from bending his leg. Some horses will get distressed and frightened by this, but sometimes get calmer about it with time.

 

[little MJ]

My horse did this twice in a week but hasn't done it since..... He's got other problems so has been on box rest. We think its due so muscle wasteage. He got his leg stuck out behind him with his hoof upside down. He didn't seen to bothered and just carried on, on 3 legs whilst I panicked! I pushed him backwards and it went back in.