Stifle Fixation - any experiences of this?

T

tigger01

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 January 2008
Messages
359
Visit site
Vet has decided my gelding may have the above - I have never heard of it, and am finding it difficult to understand exactly what it is, and also what the prognosis is for my boy.

We are hopefully going for xrays to confirm the diagnosis, altho I understand it's quite difficult to see on xray.
confused.gif
 
Is this similar to intermitent locking patella?
What this is anyway is when horses sleep standing up they have a locking mechanism in their legs which stops them from falling over half way through dozing, they normally are able to automatically unlock this but occationally some horses cant and their legs becomes "locked" so as they walk off their leg fixes straight and cannot bend it to follow movement.
My gelding has this, i bought him as a 2yr and he is now 7.
he has slight fixation once in a while, if stabled overnight which wears off/loosens once walked for 5 mins.If his leg does lock a quick step back always unlocks his.
My vet explained his was so minor and just to keep turned out as much as possible i never had x-rays.
If some horses have it bad i.e while being ridden etc , then there is options for an operation depending on situation.
Hillwork is very good to stimulate the joints strength and obvious turnout.
hope this sheds a lil light
 
Is he a youngster? I knew of a welsh youngster who had it and just grew out of it. The vet told the owner to push her backwards whenever it happens and it would "click" back. Apparently it's fairly common in youngsters, particularly welsh.
 
My friends pony has this, she refers to it as "leg lock", the pony is now 22 and has done very well in the show ring and also in affiliated dressage, winning at Medium, so for her pony it's not the end of the world. When we hack out, sometimes it has a little stumble behind, almost as though it has tripped up behind then it happily carries on.
 
As Tracey01 says, it's not the end of the world. I have an Anglo Arab mare in her mid 20s whose patella locks on occasion. However she's healthy, sound and painfree.

I agree with JoJo180 in that exercise, particularly hill work, is good for this. I've noticed with my mare that when she's in our "flat" field (we rotate fields 6 weekly) her patella locks on occasion. Yet I've NEVER seen it happen when she's been grazed in our "hill" field (which is a pretty decent slope!)

Also agree with both JoJo and Penguinboots that making the horse take a few steps backwards can help to "unlock" it. All that's usually needed is a steady push with two fingers in the middle of the chest, and horse should take a step or two backwards and most times "unlock".

If for any reason the horse can't physically move backwards, then there's another problem somewhere else, as well as locking patella, at which point it's time to call the vet/back person in!
 
Lots of exercise. Friend's two year old has locking stifles - as she is rising three and has been gently backed, daughter is riding for half an hour whenever weather allows. Vet suggestion and approved! Also, has to have riser type shoes fitted.
 
Yep!
Had a jolly big 2yo who grew out of it by the time he was under the saddle.
He only ever got 'stuck' when he was stabled,so we left him out and by the time he was 4,he never had a problem with it.
 
I had a pony thats stifle used to lock when I was younger. Would echo comments above re: fitness and muscle certainly helping. It stopped happening as she got older, she had a v successful competitive career and lasted 'til the ripe old age of 27!
 
The locking stiffle is a product of the underlying problem, not the problem as such. In young horses it is often a muscle problem and more work makes thing better. I don't want to worry you but there are other more serious causes of a locking stiffle and your vet is right to investigate further (if it is cartiledge degeneration due to OCD it won't show on an x-ray, best to get a referral to an orthopaedic surgeon if your vet suspects this). Good luck!
 
I had a mare who suffered from this. She started aged three and never grew out of it. Ironically she was living out when, during one day she locked five times. The vet felt there was no choice but to cut the ligaments that cause the locking in an operation under local sedation. It wasn't an easy choice as there can be long term complications. After three months of box rest she eventually went on to do full work and was fine. Sadly she had to be PTS for a completely different reason three years later.
 
We have a 13.2 who suffered from this. Our vet operated, at home, it was a simple procedure. Pony was turned away, in a small paddock for a month. That was 8 years ago.
He is now, quite simply, the most fun, lively, naughty, funny, fizzy pony ever.
He has done PC, RC, polo, SJ, XC, MGA... you name it... he's had a go at it.
He is now 12... and I have to say without the operation his life would have been very dull & miserable.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top