Synovitis of the coffin joint

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tusc2

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Has anyone heard of this condition before? My 7yr old Polish WB has just been diagnosed with it. He has been lame for 10 weeks now, he trots up slightly unlevel in a straight line and on a circle on left rein but on right rein is visably lame (head nodding). The problem leg is left fore leg.

Vet has given him a steroid injection into the coffin joint and requested bar shoes, and if he is not sound in 4 weeks she wants to see him again.

Any comments? Thanks
 
Check out this link tusc
http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/lameness/tha-navicular.shtml

some info on the condition here - all related to what is now known as general navicular syndrome.

I am having similar probs with one of mine - he has eggbars on, has done for 8 weeks or so that seem to have helped but not completely. However, he isn't consistently lame enough for him to be convincingly diagnosed. He is slightly lame on the straight in trot, very lame in a very tight left circle and comes sound on the lunge only when heel nerve blocked in both fores, but still feels slightly suspect under saddle. Also had the ostopath to see him, as he seemed very stiff in his neck.

Have been told to keep riding him (hacking out) until he either a) goes sound or b) goes more lame!!! If the latter, then we will send him off for scintigraphy or MRI as we will have a level of lameness to work from. Bit pants really - if only they could talk :(
 
" Bit Pants" says it all pottleperkin! Not lame enough to be a real problem but lame enough to stop work!!

He is trotting up sounder in a straight line now but I haven't bothered to check lamness on a circle. I was thinking of starting to walk him out on short hacks and see how he goes. The vet seems to be pretty non committal to a firm diagnosis but is sure its coffin joint area as joint fluid was rather pink instead of clear.
 
our horse was just diagnosed with the same problem after having her coffin joints injected a few weeks ago but is still lame we took her for a MRI to make sure is now going to IRAP INJECTIONS which is taken using her own blood processed and the injected back into the coffin joints:)
 
Mine is off to Edinburgh tomorrow - MRI and then if nothing conclusive, full nerve block work up.

I really hope they find out what is wrong, but am also scared about the outcome. Just hoping nothing too sinister. Fingers crossed.
 
the boy had MRI today - seems to show a hyperintensity on his collateral ligament, though on first look seems to be mild. Full results will be a while, but the vet is hoping that we have caught it early and that remedial shoeing and box rest will help.

Full report tomorrow when we pick him up.

Have missed him loads so will be really pleased to go get him :)
 
Whats the news on your horse Pottleperkin?

My boy is still no better, and my vet now wants to send him for MRI or CT scan, she now is thinking its tendon damage. I really don't know what to think or do as my insurance doesn't cover full cost of MRI and I understand they are pretty expensive!!

Fed up with the whole thing, he's been off work for 3 months now.
 
Hi Tusc,

on first look at the MRI, the vet reckons that he has some collateral ligament damage, so he is on box rest for two weeks with walking out in hand until we get the specialists report. Not sure how things will progress then, but I think he will have to stay at walk for quite some time.

He seems very well in himself and doesn't have any pain to speak of. He was given a halyuronic acid and steroid injection into the foot too, which will hopefully have helped.

The MRI cost was £1400 plus VAT, then there will be corrective shoeing, medication etc on top. Not a cheap business, but fortunately my insurance folk have okayed it.

It is so frustrating not knowing what is going on - if you can scrape the money together, then I would go for it.....alternatively you could take a super conservative approach and put your horse on bed rest and walking out in hand for a good length of time, but it would be a completely scatter gun approach I guess.
 
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