 |
[RC] Stifle Locking Problem - Stephanie_D_AdairI had a mare w/ this problem, w/ no obvious conformational flaw. It began w/ conditioning and then one endurance ride. I began to notice that when we moved into a big walk or trot she would spread her rear legs out quite a bit, but that was all. The "huff and puff" hills at the end of the Foxfire ride in the Angelina Nat'l Forest were where they "blew". She was in pain and we barely made it back to the trailer as she SLOWLY would bring each rear leg forward to take a step. Rested her for 2-3 months. Then each time she would move out, a stifle would lock, though she did not act as though it bothered her. Took her to Dr. Heitmann at the Katy Equine Clinic. He informed me from what I described (because of course no matter how hard we tried, could not get a stifle to lock!) that when she really extended her rear legs behind her (she could trot!) the tendon would slip off (luxate?) to the side of the 'groove' (patella??) in her knee and hang there. I apologize that I don't know the terms, so I'll just describe how I remember things. I chose to go w/ surgery. He went in and partially/halfway cut the tendon so that it would stretch longer but not rupture, and let the scar tissue heal on the tendon. Essentially making the tendon longer so that when she extended and it became taught, it would not slip over her knee. I followed Dr. Heitmann's strict guidelines for her care after the surgery, and it worked. She no longer had the wide rear stance, no more locking, and she could do her flowing extended trot again. We did a couple more rides, but I never stopped worrying about her. Loved her more than I did endurance. BUT. I don't know if because in the subsequent years she was not always conditioned. Had times where she was just a pasture potato. Or if it was inevitable. About 6 years later, although her stifles never locked, she returned to the wide stance, would go into an extended trot only when not being ridden, and when ridden it was either easy trot, and then when asked to go a little faster, extended for a few strides and then into a canter. I do think she just developed arthritis. She was a great mare, and the surgery cured her for several years. So if I had a chance to change my decision on the surgery, I wouldn't change a thing. I do know NOW that I should have gotten off and walked those hills, as we don't have hills like that at home. They may have different options these days for locking stifles. I understand Dr. Heitmann is the person to see in the Houston area for options. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= http://www.endurance.net/ads/seabiscuit.html 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 Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|