Ridecamp: [RC] Stifle Problem

I have been trying to get my horse going again this year after the Jan
fall. We have been working the past two months but he just was not
doing right. We had a bad ride at BSF in Sept.
I decided he needed some help.
My Chiro is 'too busy' to get to me?? So we tried to ride him though
his issues but he was just not working.
I felt Univ of TN would not help much since the last time I had him
there they wrote him off as lost cause.

I called vet in Cleveland TN - Oscar Wilson
We were planning on hock injection series.

I asked him to do a soundness test and take some xrays first. Two vets
watched him move walk trot up hill and down hill. He passed the hock
flexion test.
Xrays showed little to no issues with the hocks. (note to ADEQUEN- yes
it works)

So whats his problems -- STIFLES.
He is too straight in the stifle - a common problem with arabs.
He locks the stifle.
After some anatomy lessons and some walking along side I could see
and HEAR the problem
ALL that snap crackle pop I hear going down hill is the stifle medial
patella ligament.

There are 3 ligaments involved here. There is one that runs down the
center of the joint below the patella and one on each side.
The inside ligament is normally small and close to the edge of the
joint that is front of the joint. There is a raised portion of the
front surface called the TROCHLEAR ridge.
With a straight stifle joint - and in Omni's case over straight - this
ligament will slide over this ridge and lock the stifle.

When he tries to walk he wants to swing his legs to teh outside from
the hip until the ligament will slide off the ridge and back where it
belongs, then the stifle will flex along with the hock

The pop noise I here is this action. Of course this hurts and he stabs
his rear toes since the hock wont flex.
The stifle and the hock MUST flex together - it is sort of like a
parallelogram   or like one of those spring loaded desk lamps with
long arms.. one joint cannot flex without the other.

So when the stifle locks the hock ligaments are pulled tight but no
flex until the stifle ligament pops loose then the joints flex, but
the horse is out of proper position and he stumbles and satbs going
down hill . . and the whole mechanism begins to get sore - stifle hocks
and ligaments.

Ok now is when the vets jump in  and correct all the above...

Bottom line - I know WHAT his major problem is.

Dr Wilson's solution.
1 cut the ligament NOPE  will cause stifle damage in a year.
2. Do an internal blister of the medial ligament.

What this will do is to thicken the ligament, due to creation of scar
tissue. This is NOT the same a ripped ligament, but one that has been
compromised to cause the scaring to lay down more mass of tissue
LENGTH wise. As the fibers build up the ligament increases in diameter
and will not slip over the frontal ridge of the joint.
His joint will still be too straight but it will not lock much if at
all.

Dr Wilson claims a 90% success rate.
His overall evaluation of my horse including the review of his well
managed sidebones and the current sound hock stats, indicted this
procedure would be the best solution. AND one we SHOULD perform

He had one session. He will get two more at 4 weeks apart.
After the process is complete and the the ligament is cold, he can go
back to normal work.

We are under a physical therapy program of 30 minutes more or less per day
of walking up hills , and very slow hand walk down hills with small
steps. The UP  HILL work will pull the ligament length wise to keep
it stretched and flexible.
I have to get him out every day. He is NOT stalled.
I also have to work him in hand backing, on the flat for now, but
later backing up hills.
This will increase the strength of the muscles and keep the ligament
well flexed.

We have ridden him 3 times, he wants to go and shows no sign of
lameness, yet. Dr Wilson indicated he may not be lame at all, but the
process is working.

The internal blister consisted of injecting iodine -water and AIR into
the ligament along the entire length. It is about 3-4 inches long.
I felt the 'stock' ligament, it was about 1/4 wide but very thin like
a rubber band. A well defined ligament should be round and thicker.
This procedure should produce that.

I have evaluated all the options and this appeared the best.
The only other option was to not use him or  sell him with issues.
This way he can continue with endurance.


I have also found a new DVM Chiropractor  Acupuncture Vet - who will
be here on Fri to go over him and a few others.

I will keep the list informed on our progress  good or bad.
-- 
 Roger  R                        mailto:roger@xxxxxxxxxxx



=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
 Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

 If you are an AERC member - PLEASE VOTE in the upcoming By-Laws 
 Election!!!! (it takes 2/3rds to tango!!)

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=