Tendon Injury in Showjumper

measles

measles

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Utterly miserable. Our new Grade A schoolmaster came in from the field with heat and swelling on a hind leg last week and has just been scanned showing a 50% tear in his superficial flexor tendon. He's a lovely boy and we're gutted for him.

Any experiences would be much appreciated and I guess I need to hear the realistic likelihood of return to jumping at any level (ie 1.20/1.30).

He's being referred to the vet hospital with stem cell therapy a possibility. I've no experience of this so again would like to hear your thoughts.

Thanks
frown.gif
 
So sorry to hear this, I am pretty much in the same boat. The only experience I can give on stem cells is that my horse Cass was due to have them last summer after an annular ligament cut, but due to a bandage rub (from vets) she had an infection. The same week another mare on the yard had stem cell treatment to 3 holes and a tear in her DDFT which she rejected which in turn gave her an infection. After 8 months the mare is now under saddle and starting canter work.

If you go for the stem cells, there are the pigs bladder £500 basic, or cultured cells from your own horse. This mare had the pigs bladder cells, but the statistics are pretty good for this. Its a tough choice and I wish you and your SJ the very best of luck.
 
Hi
My warmblood mare had a longitudinal tear in her deep digital flexor tendon and because of where it was positioned, the prognosis was not good. I had her MRI scanned to find out all this information. I could only ever walk and occasionally trot her out riding. It gradually got worse, and then one day in the field the tear had got worse and she couldn't even walk, we called the vet and she said i had got 24 hours to make a decision as my mare was in a considerable amount of pain, the only thing i hadn't had done was the stem cells, but because of the positioning of the tear, she couldn't be helped by this method, and i unfortuneately had to have her put down. I was told that longitudinal tears do not knit back together very well, had it been a latitudinal tear, she might have had a better chance. Best of luck with your injury.
 
My RID mare damaged her check ligament but didn't pull up lame and due to me carrying on with the xcountry she tore her deep digital. My vet scanned it and told me she would never come back into ridden work. My insurance covered physio so i asked my vet to refer me.
She underwent intensive cold therapy for a good few weeks and box rest. I then started to walk her out mornign and night, gradually increasing the amount of time I walked her. This was about 8-9months after her initial injury. I brought her back into ridden work exactly twelve months later, very very slowly and for very short periods as the tendons are more prone to injury as the heat builds up. I never wear boots on her etc due to heat build up and I treat her with ice packs after each exercise period.
She competed without problem all last season including open jumping (not massive) 1.10 max and she had no problem at all. i had to stop myself from being paranoid.
Unfortunately she tweaked it in the mud at the beginning of feb this year but I decided I would take the risk rather than keep her in all winter as she is super impatient. Had I not have done that I have no doubt she would've competed without issue this year too. I am putting her in foal now as I lost her youngster but I have been putting her out since she damaged it this time and she is fine. i also use magnets on her for no more than 2 hours a day.
Interestingly though, I went to view a stallion at a racing stable last week and the guy that runs it was saying that they put all tendon injury cases on the walker for 6 weeks after the initial tear to heal the tissue in a correct working patern rather than a tangled mess of scar tissue ( i would consult a vet/physio about this first though)
I would definately advise a very good physio ASAP though as there is no doubt in my mind that my mare wouldn't have healed properly without the intervention of my physio; Also, be very patient as healing htem properly and bringing them back into work slowly and carefully is definately the key with these sorts of injuries. fingers crossed and good luck, it isn't necessarily a lost cause.. I know how you feel!!
 
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