I have a now 6 year old OTTB that I bought off the track at the end of his four year old season. He was tight behind, but nothing that would seem abnormal for a racehorse. I bought him in the fall, gave him some time off and then put him back to work in the new year. Around April, he developed a locking stifle in April (2023). We hauled him to Equine Specialty (Ohio) and had radiographs/ultrasound/blocks done and went with the typical conservative PT route for a locking stifle. Fast forward to this year and took him to Cleveland Equine (March 2024) and were told that “someone blistered the crud out of his stifles” and that there was a lot of scar tissue and then saw another vet in May who echoed the vet at Cleveland Equine that she has never seen scar tissue like that on the patellar ligament. Both vets stated it was “pretty old school”. Overall, progress has been made, but it seems that every other month, we go back to square one with a stifle issue. I guess the basic question would be - can anything be done to address the scar tissue on the ligaments? He has what feels like a bony ridge on the inside of each hind leg (thigh area on the inside of the stifle). Its bi-lateral but the problems are always on the right side. Estrogen injections helped last summer, so I am leaning towards that again, but is there anything that can be done to help the scar tissue on the ligament? The horse is super cool with a lot of potential, but is turning into a black hole of vet bills and I feel like it a “Groundhog Day” movie with stifle issues. His future is secure, but it becomes a question of being the upper level prospect that he should be and a trail horse. We live in an area that requires a couple hours of hauling to get to a vet clinic with all the toys. I am looking for PT ideas and stable management options in the meantime. The horse has very nice conformation and good quality feet, particularly for an OTTB - not post legged/hoof angles are good. Thanks for any insight.
The only thing I’ve heard of for scar tissue is Tenex. It’s very pricey, and I have no idea if appropriate in stifles. I have a friend who did it for her horse and had amazing results. If you read about it online seems like results can vary considerably.
What about shockwave? It works very well at breaking up scar tissue …
What was the recommendation of the clinic you too him to in March? Usually scar tissue has to be either surgically removed or broken up, or broken up through intense massage. Shockwave is a good suggestion. Did the clinic made suggestions though as well?
The first clinic last year did not say anything about it - they did ultrasound and radiographs and remarked on some mild effusion in the joint but not concerns with bones/ligaments.
The vet at the second clinic was the one that remarked on the amount of scar tissue and said that he had been blistered a lot and they felt like it had to be “pretty old school” based on the scar tissue. I didn’t put two and two together on what had scar tissue since it is on the inside of the “thigh” and not on the stifle per se. At the point in time, he was there due to a very tight back and he was not having any issues with the stifle locking.
This month, the ambulatory vet that will come to our place (new vet in the area so that is a big plus), remarked on the scar tissue being on the ligament itself. The horse is being treated for Lyme so that was probably the back issue. He was recently kicked in the stifle, so I was having the new vet check that while she was out. She was fairly fascinated with the level of scar tissue and again “the old school” blisters that must have been done to produce that.
First clinic just suggested the standard locking stifle protocol and if that didn’t work, that I could bring him back for surgery.
We did do a round of estrogen injections last summer/fall which helped a lot and will probably do that again.
So long story short - nothing has been specifically recommended for the scar tissue itself.
Donella,
I was wondering about that and will ask. I was hoping people would have some “at home” ideas for massage techniques/PT that they had success with. I would probably have to haul 1-2 hours to get shock wave treatments. We are in a bit of a dead zone with large animal clinics. Thanks.
Do you have access to a bemer blanket?? There is a thread going right now about the positive effects of those. I believe one can rent them.
Sounds like you need to discern if the scar tissue is really causing any issues before deciding what to do about it. If he’s being treated for Lyme and a contusion to the stifle I would first address that.
I would maybe check into equine massage therapy next and see if you can find someone qualified to help work at breaking up scar tissue. It can be painful though so just bear that in mind. It may or may not be restricting or hindering him. I think it needs to be confirmed if the scar tissue is a source of any problems before attacking it.
TWH_Girl
The “sticky” stifle issue predates the lyme and contusion. This is probably from his 3 year old year on the track. The track vet where he spent his last year racing was not the one who did it. I am looking for ideas for “at home” supports that are of the “do no harm” variety and just wondered if anyone else had a similar issue. I am not finding a lot for this type of concern, most everything is for the standard locking stifle issues. Thanks! I am sure we will be back out to vet clinics in the not too distant future.
I think @TWH_Girl is right tho: he may have lots of scar tissue but it’s not necessarily causing a problem. Query why somebody blistered the crap out of his stifles to cause the scar tissue in the first place and the logical answer is that he evidently had a history of stifle problems.
ECP is cheap and safe so if that worked for him that’s a nice and easy fix.
Someone might have been too aggressive with “insert product here” to try to address the stifle issue. Agreed he likely had a history. My daughter learned to go gently with blisters after having to treat the blister after having over done it. Fortunately with no lasting effects and she felt like total crap and has not done it since.
