Suspensory Ligament damage

[Baz1]

I'd be interested to hear people's experience of their horse recovering from suspensory ligament damage. Did you have to resort to shockwave therapy or surgery - or did time and gentle exercise do the trick! Thanks

 

[misst]

My daughters horse did very well with rest,shockwave therapy and controlled walking after box rest - he was young -5 and I think that helped. He was treated very gently and very slowly brought back into full work. He did well until he did his collateral ligaments in both fronts! But that's another post! The vet recommended early shockwave treatment whilst he was still on boxrest I think it works better early rather than later but I may be wrong about that -I am sure someone else will be able to tell you.

 

[bexsodb]

my horse had it when he was 10
he was on box rest for couple of months then slowly back into work
used to walk him in hand for couple of weeks

he was a very sharp jumping horse made full recovery had was still competing at the age of 18 no problems

i think alot will deepend on the sort of horse as to which treatment works best

work for a guy who had a jumping horse treatment box rest never work so we put him out in field for six mnths
came back sound no re occuring probs

 

[Oldred]

I'm greedy, I've had two with PSD diagnosed. The first some years ago and she had shockwave and rest. Didn't work and has been retired. The second has had the op and meticulous rehab and so far is still showing some problems 6 months on. One did the damage in a trailer, the other in the field. Rest, apparently, is unlikley to cure the damage. It seems a bit of a lottery as to whether the horse comes completely sound or not.

 

[angiebaby]

Same as oldred! mine is still having a bit of stiffness after 13 months ( had the op) hind legs don't tend to recover as well as fronts. But all depends on quick diagnosis and treatment.
My pony is still a good hack though

 

[Emma24]

My event horse damaged three suspensory's about three years ago and he had shockwave treatment done on them all. Two healed very nicely but one took for ever.
But after over a yr off and very careful fitness plan my horse has been diagnosed as doing his suspensory again in his front leg and will never jump again or compete.
So I think suspensory's are very tricky things. I think worth doing the shockwave treatment especially if insured. Give your horse plently of time off really let the leg recover.
And when getting your horse fit again after a break take it very carefully and do it properly. I.E 4-6 weeks of walking and so on until jumping. Would advise to be very careful.
Good luck

 

[dieseldog]

My horse had PSD and the op on her back legs and is totally cured - except she then did her front suspensory out in the field. Because of it's location on the medial branch shockwave won't work so she is out in the field and has improved dramatically, but still not right but it has only been 4 months.

 

[Nels]

I think a lot depends on whether front or hind, but my gelding has been disgnosed with PSD in his left fore twice now. Both times he has had shockwave therapy with strict box rest for 10 weeks with in-hand walking at 4 weeks onwards. This time he has also had plasma therapy into the lesion - which seems to have worked. Am now back on the long road to fitness again but technically he is sound. I think the main problem with PSD is that they need to use the ligament to help healing - but not too much or it goes again! And now for me it seems that keeping them sound is the problem...as yet I have no idea if I will ever compete my boy again.

 

[star]

try searching the vet forum for more info.

there's been loads of posts recently.

mine got PSD in his hind in 2002, had 3 lots of shockwave, box rest then controlled exercise and he never looked back - back in full work in 6mths.