OCD SECOND XRAYS WHAT TO DO NEXT??

minmax

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I have a rising 4 WB, homebred. He currently stands 16.2 ish. He developed OCD last yr, had treatment, joints injected etc then Adequan then more joint jabs. He is still slightly lame and walks wide behind.
He went up for 2nd xrays today and no real change.
Vet said could operate, use it as a diagnostic and if they can clean any bits up they would or, try working him for 6 weeks and see if he gets worse or, just medicate joints and work and see what happens.
Who has had any dealings with it and what would you do?
He told me to work him after last lot of jabs but he wasn't getting sounder. Over the winter he hasn't done anything as I did'nt want him too lame to go out in the field. He isn't backed yet so this was lunging.
I have to think about what I want to do and let them know in couple of days.....
tongue.gif
 
Where is the OCD and did the xrays show a lot of damage on the actual bone/any chips that can be removed?

If you speak to Halfstep on here, she had surgery + IRAP on her boy's hocks with good results. I have had IRAP (no surgery as no chips visible and bone was perfect) and it hasnt made any difference.
 
What joint(s) is it thats affected and what do the xrays show?

Have you had any ultrasound scans of the affected joints? This would show up any unusual going son with soft tissue - ligaments etc...

I had a filly who had severe OCD in both stifles and she was operated on with great success... I can really recomend it as a course of action and wouldn't hesitate in putting a horse through it again. It's only keyhole surgery so there is no scaring but obviously theres the usual risks associated with a general anaesthetic. IMO its worth a try and the sooner it's done, the sooner you should be able to crack on with him.
 
The OCD is in hocks. He has roughening to distal end of lateral malleous on one hock, he also has a small spur. He also has flattening to the medial condyle.(stifle) I get the impression they want to further there experience as a new surgical practice? They have a new surgery and seem to want to use it. I would rather someone who does this sort of thing all the time to op if thats what it needs??
 
I think you are right to want an experienced, specialist vet.

Graeme Monroe did my boy's billateral stiffle OCD and he was very, very good. Full recovery stats were good (80%), but unfortunately Thomas was in the 20% and did not recover. Thomas's recovery involved 9 months box rest, 5 of which were complete box rest with no exercise and that was quite tough to do (it completely blew his mind and he became quite unhappy and difficult to handle, which in turn could not have helped much with resting).
 
No real words of wisdom I'm afraid, but my 7yo KWPN mare had surgery last week to remove an OCD fragment from her right hock. We're just starting the second week of box rest, followed by 2 weeks of in-hand grazing, then 4 weeks of restricted turnout before starting light ridden work (hopefully!). They're also going to inject the joint in a months time. This is what they removed, it's about the size of my thumb nail. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
 
I'd be very reluctant to let a vet wanting to establish his surgical skills do an operation such as this. You do need a specialist, or someone who at least does this kind of work fairly routinely.

Are there any breeders or local studs that could point you in the right direction?
 
Have the operation but bloody hell make sure its done by a surgeon who has done 100s of these. They are NOT EASY! PM me, and I can recommend you one of the very top orthopedic vets in the country (in north oxfordshire), he did my horse and has done literally thousands of arthroscopic surgeries.

PM me anyway, I've been through it, my horse had a very similar xray (minus the bone spur) and likewise was never lame.

xx
 
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