Stifle lameness treatment ideas

[jaffa2311]

Looking for any success or other stories for treating a stifle lameness with injections.

Pony found to be sound initially but lame on flexion (picked up at a foot trim). Joint effusion palpable on examination and noted on ultrasound, otherwise normal imaging.
Arthroscopy shows inflammation in one compartment with mild bony change and mild chondromalacia in the other compartment.

Vet recommends triamcinolone injection in one compartment and arthramid in the other.

I’m considering declining the steroid suggestion given it is temporary and the pony is an overweight, native good doer and obviously not in work currently.

There is talk of stem cell but again I have my doubts.

Looking for any stifle infection anecdotes!

 

[WestCoast]

I agree about the steroid in an overweight pony. You could try arthamid if you’ve got the cash as I know people who’ve had good results.

Most important thing is reducing weight and spending time on rehab.

My mare had a meniscus tear 2 years ago. After an arthroscopy we did two weeks box rest, 4 weeks small pen rest, worked up from walking 5 minutes twice a day to 30m under saddle over next 6 weeks then she spent the winter with all day turnout and hacking up to an hour 3 times a week at walk including hills. Spent the last 18 months hacking with trotting and cantering included 3-4 times a week including a few polework/flatwork lessons a month and has stayed sound. She did have an Arthramid injection after the first winter but she wasn’t unsound at the time, just stepped out slightly behind at walk and I’m not sure it made a difference. She’s slowly got straighter as she’s strengthened up.

Potentially she could do more work but she’s the last horse I’ll have at my age and I like hacking better than schooling/competing so I haven’t pushed it.

 

[live2ride]

My gelding has a diagnosis, though we didn't go down the arthroscopy route, so it was not confirmed, but the vet thought chondromalacia in both stifles, initially, we treated with steroids - the effects lasted 3 weeks max, so then we went for the stem cell treatment of articell into his stifles and arthramid into hocks (dodgy looking hocks).

He has been sound with his stifles since the stem cell treatment. However, I decided to just do a straight-line hack to lessen the strain on his compromised back end, and we no longer school or lunge.