Stifle Ligament Injury

[tasel]

Already posted in NL2, but maybe there may be more replies here...

The vet was out again today to see why my mare was still not sound following her injections to treat bone spavin. He also looked at the x-rays made by the previous vets. He didn't think her hocks were that bad.

But looking at her again, he looked at her stifle which seemed filled with fluid, did a nerve block, and determined this was a stifle ligament issue. Ultrasound will follow.

I am really devastated by this. My mare went lame last year, after which they a locum vet determined her lameness was all just in my mare's head. Second vet determined it was bone spavin. Now it seems more like it's a stifle problem which I thought was the case anyway at the start - it's just that no vet seemed to listen (the locum vet particularly thought she knew better!!!). The last vet did x-ray this, too, but it doesn't seem to be a bone problem - the stifle apparently looks the way it should as also confirmed by the current vet!!!

Anyone have any experence with this sort of thing??? I am utterly devastated right now. I could live with the bone spavin diagnosis... this is just another blow!!!

 

[geraldgiraffe]

My mare had a kick injury to her lateral patellar ligament last summer and has recently finished 8 months box rest (prob not what you want to hear i know)Her original ultrasound showed quite significant damage to both the ligament and its insertion plus a few bone chips just for good measure and the vets weren't very optimistic about her chances of coming sound. However, at her follow up scan they were very surprised how well it had healed and so far she s back in light work and doing well. I think prognosis may vary depending on whether its the medial or lateral ligament involved (i've heard of a few who've damaged the medial and the patella is the prone to locking even if they appear otherwise sound - but i'm no vet so not sure!).She also had cartrophen injections so they may have been of help. My biggest concern is probably her opposite leg because of the additional weight it had to bear, her hoof has grown unequally and she brings it across into the midline but i'm hoping this will improve. Good luck with the scans.

 

[tasel]

8 months boxrest!!!

I don't know how she could cope with that... she went mental with 1 month boxrest!!!

Thanks for the response... don't quite feel so alone now. I hope we will get a slightly better diagnosis during the ultrasound scan.

They x-rayed my horse already and the stifle joint itself is apparently fine - I was told by two vets now that it looks the way it should look... so I don't think we will have the bone chip problem. But I believe something will show up in the ligaments. She'll be scanned soon, and I'm quite interested as to what will show up. It's not that she is hopping lame either... she seems to be coping with the leg fine and doesn't even rest it more than the other leg. It's only at trot and canter that you notice there's really something wrong with her. And even her trot improves when something exciting is going on (tractors are around or vet watching her - I seriously think she wanted to tell vet there's nothing wrong wit her prior to him prodding her with needles... she trotted like she never does when it's just me there, i.e. she trotted a really nice trot although vet still saw her lameness).

I don't mind a few weeks or even 2 months of boxrest or a 6 month rehab programme... all I want s for my girl to be better. She is so gorgeous, I love her to bits. Never felt like this bout any horse I have ridden before!!! She just hs the personality that matches mine...