OCD Stiffle Joints - any success stories would be welcome

BeepaStar

BeepaStar

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Hi, I'm new to the forum, so any feed back is most welcome
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I have a 7 year old 15.2 ISH who in May last year was diagnosed with OCD in both stifle joints. He's been treated conservatively with box rest, restricted turn out, adequan injections, steriod injections and he's on cosequin. He's been brought slowly back into work over the last 2 months with walk and trot work. My vet has stated that he'll only ever be a light and that he won't be able to do much flat work and he'll never be able to do a prelim or pole work (not jumping). I'm currently waiting for a second opionion, however, I'm not keen on surgery as apparently it has a 50 / 50 chance of succes. Has anyone been in a similar situation and managed to go on and do more with there horse apart from being a light hack?
Many thanks for taking the time to read this, JB
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I would say the chance of success of the surgery is FAR higher than 50/50 if done by an experienced surgeon, tbh. If I were you I'd ask for a referral to a different veterinary clinic as I think your vets prognosis sounds far bleaker than perhaps it should be, unless the OCD lesions are in some way more tricky than usual. By leaving them in place they will always be at risk of causing problems.

My horse had an arthroscopy done to remove an OCD lesion in his hock. I am very happy he had the surgery and it was straightforward and he's made a full recovery, back to competition (dressage) in six months. But it does has to be done by an experienced orthopedic vet who has done a lot of such work.
 
Hi Jessicaboots and welcome!
My 6 year old French Trotter had arthroscopy for suspected OCD in both stifles in November. Then went on to have IRAP injections. He is now on field rest and will be ready for building up by hand walking in 2 weeks. The treatment went well and has been very positive.

Also lochpearl has been through the same op with Lotto but his treatment has been much more intense.

If you do a search on the site for previous posts on stifles for further info or if you can PM me.

Good luck. x
 
I agree with Halfstep and it was on her recommendation I had the arthroscopy done.

My boy is sound again and will be back in ridden work within the next month or so if hand walking all goes well.x
 
Many thanks for your response Halfstep, I'm in the process of getting a 2nd opinion from a surgeon at Liphook as I also think my vets outlook is very bleak. It's very encouraging to hear you're your boys surgery was a success and he's back in competition work. There seems to be a glimmer hope after all.
 
More than a glimmer I'd say, I know a few horses who have had the arthrosocpy for stifles and its been fine. Oh, and do a search on IRAP, it is probably worth doing post-surgery if you go ahead.
 
Thanks CarmaandFlin, when your boy had the arthroscopy did they do both stifles at the same time or were they separate ops and how long was he on box rest for after the op? I have lots of questions! My boy has bone cysts in both stiffles, but one side is worse than the other. I'm currently getting a 2nd opinion regarding surgery so I'll be really interested to know how you boy continues to get on. Thanks for letting me know about lochpearl, I'll do a search on them a bit later.
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Thanks, this all sounds very encouraging. I've heard of IRAP, but vet hasn't mentioned it, however, she did talk about using Tildern, I've done some research on this and it's had varied results. The vet stated she'd treated 2 horses with ocd in stifle joints with Tildern and one horse showed positive signs of improvement, but the other didn't, but I'm going to do some research on IRAP now instead! Thanks
 
my friend had a horse with ocd in its shoulder, after stariod and cortisone (sp?) injections into the joint, and a lot of time off was brought back into work slowly, and is tihs season out hunting! he had probs along the way but is as sound as before now!
 
My Filly had arthroscopy done on both stiffles in October and despite hers being one of the worst cases her surgeon and vet have ever seen, she is now sound.

Without the operation, your horse is unlikely to come sound. with it, at least you can say you have tried everything and I'd say the chance of success is better than 50/50.
 
Hi Jessicaboots

Hope you have a better idea on your next step. My boy had both stifles done at the same time. He had 4 weeks complete box rest after the op and within these 4 weeks he had 3 IRAP injections every 7 to 10 days into both stifle joints. On his last injection and first walk on the yard he was walking straight. He walked like a wonky donkey if you have read my previous posts!!

He was then on 4 weeks field rest which he is currently on, his first day out was under sedation! He is pretty laid back but he loved his bucking! He is still sound and straight.

Next step is physio then can start hand walking.

I'd definately be going for the second opinion and arthroscopy. Good luck with your boy and keep us posted. xx
 
My boy had Arthroscopy in both stifles 4 yrs ago, he had appartently the worse onces they had ever seen and told me that he would propably never be ridden again but after 3 months box rest he went on to go back to full work however sadly this year they gave up on him again and I made the hard desision to have him pts, however I never regret the desision, to have the surgery done as it gave us the most amazing time together!!! Hope it all works out for you
 
I suspect hock and stifle arthroscopy for DJDs (of which OCD is one) is becoming one of the "dirty little secrets" of sport horse breeding/maintenance/selling. I think if statistics were known a great many horses now have this done in Europe and N America (maybe here too) which go on to be sound and subsequently pass vettings and even go on to be breeding stock without anyone disclosing their history. Stifles especially, seem to respond to adroit surgery particularly well. I'd find a vet that does the surgery frequently, have the horse assessed and see what he/she says.

Non surgical treatment for DJDs particularly if the disease has progressed, seems much less generally successful. I think the surgery is - rightly - seen as last ditch by most vets but then again, if nothing else is likely to return the horse to useful soundness, perhaps a viable option.
 
Twinkle_Poppy, sorry to hear of your loss. Thanks for posting your msg, it's so encouraging to hear of yours and everyone else's success after surgery. Just out of interest, how old was your boy when he had the surgery and what did you both go on to do together? Sounds like you must have had a lot of fun in those four years!
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My horse has just been diagnosed with ocd. Hes 5 years old and 17 hand. He will be having an op in 2 weeks. The surgeon says he has an 85% chance of a full recovery if we dont put to much pressure on him, riding wise for about 12 months after that we should be able to use him for county showing as we do with our other horse. So the prognosis is good. :
 
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