Stifle Cartilage Tear

[Sting]

My pony had an arthroscopy yesterday and they found a tear on his right stifle which they managed to operate on, however, he also has a suspected tear on the left hind meniscus too but they are unable to get to it and his prognosis for being ridden again is poor.

The surgeon has suggested that I might try IRAP, has anyone else had any experiences of this as I believe it is very successful in humans but still very new to be used on equines.

Any other thoughts/suggestions most welcome as absolutely heartbroken as he's only 9 this year.

 

[clairencappelli]

I can fully understand your worry.

I went through hell last year with my horse.

She came in from the field with a very hot swollen fetlock and after weks of rest scans and xrays, nerve blocks and joint fluid testing nothing was found so we went for an arthroscopy after about 3 months.

They found massive cartledge trauma- some had sheared right off and had rubber her annular ligament and lets jusr say the rest wasnt in good shape!. They tidied the joint up and did what they could and she had to have 3 months post op box rest and then 3 months field rest starting in an increasing sized pen.

We brought her back into work jan and have had a few set backs and its not been easy as being a TB she seems to be unable to help herself.

We dont know if she will jump again but her leg seems to be holding so far in light work on the fla- well at least when she behaves herself.

Cartledge damage is hard to dectect as the only way you know it to find any in fluid which often the fragments dont show up, or to go into the joint and look.

Quite a lot of people i know didnt think cartledge damage was serious but it is and its so you have my sympathy.

Dr david platt came down to kent to do my horses surgery and he asked for her to be put onto the newmarket joint supplement which im sure has helped her loads and improved the quailty of the fiberious tissue that has replaced the damaged cartledge.

I also feed green lipped muscle to help slow the onset of early arthritus and as an anti inflamatory. It is being use din horse clinical trials and is proving to be very sucsessfull so far.

 

[Sting]

Thanks for your help. I'm sorry to hear about your horse too. The problem I also have is that my field is steep and everytime he goes out he runs flat out down it then does a 'handbrake' turn and rolls!!

I have been trying to ride this pony for the last 4 years and have not had 1 season with him under saddle. He's absolutely stunning which makes things more frustrating. Luckily he has been on Newmarket Joint supplement for the past 3 years anyway so I hope this will help.

Good luck with your horse and I just hope things work out for you both.

 

[samuelhorse]

Hope your boy comes sound.

I wasnt as brave as you, as couldnt go through the op as was too scared hed die under anaesthetic.
The xrays showed my boy had torn cruciate ligament, lateral collateral ligament and possible meniscal tear to his stifle in December 2005.

It took him 18 months of rest (turned out in small paddock on his own and being lead out inhand) and has come sound to ride.

good luck xx

 

[Sting]

Ah, thanks for that its good to know that there maybe some hope for him longer term.

I was so nervous about him having the op for the same reasons as I have to be one of the unluckiest people alive! I don't think I could have lived with myself if anything had happened to him, just glad he's home and happy at least I now what what I'm dealing with. I didn't sleep for a week leading up to it, but the vets were great they rang me as soon as he came round and really looked after him well.

Thanks again and I'm glad things ended up well for you and your boy.

Mel xx

 

[sassyequine]

Hi Mel,
I really feel for you as I had a pretty identical situation with my 5 year old warmblood. He had the same operation with Andy Bathe up there and came home for box rest. After 6 very careful and difficult months of recovery, he was in light walking work. After 9 months we went into trot and he was unlevel again. The same as you he had torn the last third of the ligament which is inaccesable.
After much sould searching I had to have him pts. He was a horse who hated rest, didnt cope well on box or field rest and was lame without Finadyne and cortisone. He was uncomfortable without pain relief and I felt it wasnt right for him to live like this. I wish you all the luck in the world as its really really tough.
To top it off my new 4 year old who I bought in October (full xrays etc) went lame on boxing day and has collapsed front ligaments, we are off to newmarket for an MRI in 2 weeks time with little prognosis for eventing.

 

[Sting]

OMG sorry to hear about your warmblood and now your new one, I really hope things work out.

THe strange thing with my boy is that he was only very slightly lame (1/10th) in one hind leg which no judge noticed last year, I couldn't feel it and the vet could only just notice it! The reason I had trouble with him, which I still find very strange to work out is that he walks and trots with an amazing extended trot, however, when he goes into canter he would not strike off on the correct lead, would very violently toss his head and bucks so high his tail would hit the back of my head. I have tried to 'work him threw' this as thought it may be a behaviour problem but no luck just gets worse. The vets still can't understand why for a pony that is hardly lame (not even on painkillers) he is so unable too and against cantering. When nerved blocked he was perfect!!

Any suggestions??

Wishing you all the luck in the world for 2 weeks time, you must keep me updated.

Mel x

 

[sassyequine]

Hi Mel,
Its really interesting to hear that as Luca's original tear was diagnosed when he was barely noticebly lame but I knew that his canter transitions were not normal. He would almost stop and would try anything other than to have to go into canter. At that stage he was barely 1/10th lame. If you havent allready been to Newmarket it may be a good idea to ask Marcus Head or Andy Bathe to take a look. Both diagnosed mine through his upward canter transitions.

Things progressed with my mare today. Over the weekend she was increasingly unhappy in walk and grouchy to tack up which is completely unlike her. Vet came again today and still only 1/5th lame on lunge on soft surface but this time the minute I got on she rounded her back and didnt want to walk forward, crabbed sideways and lots of avoidance behaviour. He thinks that because her front feet are so painful this is the next stage of her trying to tell us it hurts and she's now holding herself difficultly. So we have cortisoned and HYA her coffin joints and 6 weeks of rest. Im going to get on her once next week just to check that she is back to happy sound horse and therefore we are treating the right problem. Really sad and really very boring with nothing to ride!
Good luck, I feel for you
Sarah x