Suspensory tear and drop sesamoid bones

[susie2193]

Hi

I'm looking for other peoples experiences.

8 months ago my horse went lame behind, after a lot of investigations and scans he was eventually diagnosed with a tear in a hind suspensory branch and his sesamoid bones had dropped in that leg.

Prognosis was a light hack if I could get him sound.

He stayed on box rest for 5 months with walking in hand, and since then has been turned out. I trotted him up today and he has gone from 4/10 lame to 2/10 lame, but his fetlock has visibly dropped.

For various reasons ligaments are excluded from my insurance, and so getting him scanned and x-rayed regularly isn't an option, as the original diagnosis cost me over £3000.

He is happy in the field at the moment, but I am after people's experiences on whether you think he will ever come sound, or if I will end up making the hardest decision of my life.

Before he went lame he did low level dressage, so a very easy life, and I'm concerned that if he does come sound he will very quickly go lame again.

 

[mynutmeg]

Can't help much as I'm about the same stage as you are with my mare but I feel your pain.
There's so little information out there regarding branch injuries - everything I could find refered to proximal suspensory damage which apparnetly has a much better prognosis.
If it helps I was told there is no point in re-xraying as once the sesamoid bone has the inflammatory changes they never go away on x-ray. I was advised not to bother with lots of scans etc but to go on how the horse was clinically (mine also has her ligaments excluded)

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

One at work did the branch and fractured the sesamoid on a front leg. Came back into full work - came in lame but DID come 100% sound with work! He didn't stand up to racing again but he will be a perfectly normal horse for someone. If you have the time to give then it will be your best friend.

 

[ycbm]

I bought an ex racer who had ripped his tendons off his sesamoids on a hind leg. He had a years rest and came back absolutely fine. He cross countried with me with no issues.