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Hi Kris,

 

First:  I know nothing about this sort of treatment for horses.

 

However, we have adopted and provided foster care for a number of children with cerebral palsy.  They are inclined to have lots of orthopedic complications and one of the more common treatments is to put little cuts in a particular offending ligament or tendon ( sometimes  called a "tendon release").

 

What we have seen is a wide variation in reults.  I'm not sure that in people the orthopedists are able to predict the patient's reaction to any particular quantity of those little cuts.  Some kids seem to have no change.  Some kids have an absolute optimal outcome and some have too much of a result and really lose tone that they needed - they get a little "floppy".

 

While this is worth attempting on non-ambulatory patients, I'd be pretty careful with an equine patient whose ability to ambulate is his main purpose in life.

 

 

Nancy Sturm

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Kris Hazelbaker

To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: 9/15/2005 7:58:13 AM

Subject: [RC] Stifle treatment

I have a 7 year old gelding with mild stifle problems ? they ?catch? going downhill, sometimes.  I?ve had him x-rayed ? and the vet found no bone cysts, so it does seem to be ligament related.  At the time we did the x-rays, the vet layed out 2 treatment options ? cutting the ligament or injecting it (causes thickening, and theoretically, less catching on the bone).  Then he consulted with another vet at Washington State U. who recommended putting little cuts in the ligament that theoretically would thicken as they healed and result in less catching on the bone.

 

Anyone have any experience with that treatment?  All the ?theoretically? parts have me nervous.  I like this horse.  Uphills and levels are just fine for him, but you know, what goes up must come down, and downhills with a rider (right now) don?t work so well.

 

Kris in Idaho