Osseous cyst like lesion on collateral ligament

[dottydiva62]

please help me. my 11 year old connemara x gelding has been diagnosed with osseous cyst-like lesion within the distal phalanx at the insertion of the medial collateral ligament of the distal interphalangeal joint! Prognosis to atheletic function is guarded. He seems absolutely sound and not very lame at all the problem I am having is tripping when being ridden. Vet recommended long box rest but the horse is not coping well and I wonder if this is entirely fair on either of us? Would a turn away for the Winter be more beneficial, has anyone had any experience in dealing with this type of problem. I just don't know what to do, I feel I should just let him go out in the field and be a horse beause am I not keeping him in for my own uses....i.e. so there might be a slim chance I can ride him!? All opinions at this stage would be graatefully received....

 

[ImogenBurrows]

please help me. my 11 year old connemara x gelding has been diagnosed with osseous cyst-like lesion within the distal phalanx at the insertion of the medial collateral ligament of the distal interphalangeal joint! Prognosis to atheletic function is guarded. He seems absolutely sound and not very lame at all the problem I am having is tripping when being ridden. Vet recommended long box rest but the horse is not coping well and I wonder if this is entirely fair on either of us? Would a turn away for the Winter be more beneficial, has anyone had any experience in dealing with this type of problem. I just don't know what to do, I feel I should just let him go out in the field and be a horse beause am I not keeping him in for my own uses....i.e. so there might be a slim chance I can ride him!? All opinions at this stage would be graatefully received....

Hmm - prognosis guarded in a sound horse?

If his only symptom at the moment is tripping then personally I'd have a long chat with your vet and farrier regarding his shoeing for starters.
The OCL may well have been there for years and is an incidental findings. The location is correct and not unusual for that type of lesion and is often associated with collateral ligament damage - has this been scanned?
I'd get this scanned and have treated these with shockwave with reasonable success.
Speak to your vets about the possibility of injecting the OCL surgically with steroids?
I'd be concerned about writing this horse off so quickly...

Hope that's some help,
Imogen

 

[ImogenBurrows]

Update...checked with our orthopaedic specialist we found out there has not been much success with intra-lesional steroids as the coffin joint is so tight for space and often they don't communicate with the joint

Might be also worth discussing use of MRI to complete diagnosis?
Good luck,
Imogen

 

[dottydiva62]

please help me. my 11 year old connemara x gelding has been diagnosed with osseous cyst-like lesion within the distal phalanx at the insertion of the medial collateral ligament of the distal interphalangeal joint! Prognosis to atheletic function is guarded. He seems absolutely sound and not very lame at all the problem I am having is tripping when being ridden. Vet recommended long box rest but the horse is not coping well and I wonder if this is entirely fair on either of us? Would a turn away for the Winter be more beneficial, has anyone had any experience in dealing with this type of problem. I just don't know what to do, I feel I should just let him go out in the field and be a horse beause am I not keeping him in for my own uses....i.e. so there might be a slim chance I can ride him!? All opinions at this stage would be graatefully received....

He has had an MRI but all looks a bit bleak......but I must stress to look at the horse looks absolutely sound it is just when ridden in walk the problem arises. I have to be blunt and ask whether box rest is really going to achieve anything apart from make the horse very depressed? He has been in for a month now and just box walks the entire time, he has gone from a happy soul to a really angry individual and I feel so guilty and helpless and I just simply don't know what to do for the best. I am so tempted now just to turn him away for the Winter and see what Spring brings? Whatever happens he is just simply going to go potty when he goes out. Again any feedback or help is so very much appreciated.

 

[cptrayes]

If he's sound why can't you ride him? And turn him out? And if his prognosis is that "guarded" what's the point of upsetting him by keeping him in prison?

If I were in your shoes, or his, I'd either take him barefoot (which has a terrific record of stopping horses from tripping) or speak to your farrier about really short toes, with a breakover as far back as he can get it, and rolled toes on the shoes. Has that already been tried? If not, it's a bit early to talk about him being a write-off!!