Torn/Injured cruciate

[zpsid91]

Has anyone had a horse with a torn (suspected), or otherwise injured cruciate? We have had ongoing stifle problems for the past couple of years, which responded well to stifle injections for a few months. Then over the past several weeks his stifle has been getting more sore. The vet was out yesterday and used radiographs and ultrasound to diagnose. She is also consulting with several other docs in her practice and a surgeon for more info.
Has anyone dealt with this? Did you go through the rehab and IRAP/Pro-Stride injections? Did they help if so? Was your horse back to dressage post rehab? Or just pleasure/trails, still a little lame?

I’m trying to make some decisions on what to do - treat and rehab vs retire vs throw out in a pasture for a year and see what we have.
Thanks all!

(BTW - he’s an 11 yo TB gelding - low level eventing prior to injury, loves having a job and being fawned over )

[SonicWithNoRings]

It really depend if it is a complete rupture of a cruciate ligament or just partial? If it is complete the horses usually have chronic lameness and joint instability. However, horses with mild injuries have a fair prognosis after conservative treatment involving rest, systemic NSAIDs, and intra-articular corticosteroids.

[Simkie]

Yep. I bought a horse off the track with an MCL strain, confirmed via ultrasound. Vet said rest/turnout for 6 months would likely resolve, so she went out for the fall and winter, but there was still effusion in the joint in the spring, so we did IRAP. Two rounds, I think. That totally resolved it and we’ve not had any issues there since.

Same vet had an eventer client with a tear (said the ultrasound looked like a bomb went off in the joint!) come sound with IRAP, and went back to eventing.

[ZELLA]

Stifle injuries, especially those involving soft tissue, are difficult to get healed. Whether the treatment involves surgery, injections of whatever, shockwave, or other types of body work, many just never regain soundness or stay sound.

[zpsid91]

I’m leaning towards just turning him out for 6-12 months, then re-evaluating. Most literature I’ve found says about 50/50 roughly.
I’d imagine it would be a partial tear if anything as most things are not weight bearing with a full tear. However, I’m not scoping his joint just yet for a 100% confirmation of that (there’s enough evidence on ultrasound/rads to determine ligament injury).
Thanks for your experiences - I appreciate it!

[wildlifer]

Yes, I had one who had to retire from sport at 11, he had just gotten to T eventing. I was able to get him to where he is comfortable for trail (his favorite thing anyway) /light pleasure, sold to a friend for a “husband horse”. Hind trailers on his shoes were a big help.

Vet did not advise an attempt to return to jumping due to joint instability risks. It was a heartbreaker, I put 5 yrs into him since I got him after he retired from racing & he was a great horse & a very good jumper. But he has a great home just 3 miles from me with people who have way more resources than I do & take good care of him, he is 15 now & is happy being lazy & eating, so that is something.