"Moderate sesamoiditis" in a 2-yo TB

[cardinale]

2-yo TB not yet at the track but lightly started for racing. Vet report on x-rays states moderate sesamoiditis in medial sesamoid of one foreleg. No apparent lameness.

How concerned would you be for a sporthorse prospect? Light or no jumping eventually.

Would this likely resolve with a years’ worth of turnout before horse is re-started or would extended confinement (which seems to be the typical recommendation for sesamoiditis) be indicated, and turnout actually exacerbate the problem?

Is this NBD in such a young horse (especially if they don’t go to the track and are given time to grow up) or an indication of a lifetime of predisposition to problems?

[NancyM]

The problem with sesamoid issues is that the bone has no periosteum. Which means that there is none of the regular supply of healing requirements that other bones in the body have when they need to heal from injury. It’s not impossible that things may cool out, in time. But the question is… why did this happen in the first place in the early stages of training, which are usually not THAT intensive?
That being said, I did have a young TB colt (bred to race) who broke his sesamoid in turn out with his mother at a month old. It healed, but it took a long time. And it was a “fiberous union”, my vet said. He was sound as a 2 year old, and lovely. I gave him away as a riding horse prospect. Xray showed that the sesamoid had not just been “broken”, it had been “shattered” into several pieces. It barely showed at all by the time he was 2. Dunno if his very young age at the time of the injury helped it heal as well as it did. Dunno how sound he stayed in later life.
Good luck with your decision.

[JB]

@NancyM

Dunno if his very young age at the time of the injury helped it heal as well as it did.

All the bones are still growing at that young age, so his very young age was definitely in his favor

[cardinale]

Thanks for the information.

I finally got hold of the vet who did the X-rays. She said NBD–it’s within what is pretty common with young TBs starting race training–especially when I said no racing and turnout for a year. She said at this young age the damage (radiolucency) would fill in and to give Osteon or similar to help bone growth/regrowth. She also said no confinement (stall rest is recommended for serious cases)–letting them move around is much better.

[NancyM]

Sounds like he’d be worth a try then. Good luck!!!