Ligament Injuries in Horses

Injuries to the strong fibrous tissues (ligaments) that connect bones and support joints, frequently caused by strain during sports like racing or eventing.

Ligaments maintain bone alignment and support joints in the horse's body.

Ligaments in the horse's legs, especially the collateral ligaments in coffin, fetlock, and hock joints, are frequently injured in sports horses.

Stabilize joints as they move by limiting extreme movements.

Located at the fetlock joint, it helps support the tendons that bend the horse's leg.

Supports the fetlock joint and prevents hyperextension of the leg, often located in upper cannon bone.

Found in the stifle (hind leg) joint; important for its stability.

While the body repairs ligaments, it often doesn't restore them to their original strength or function.

The least severe type of ligament injury in horses.

The most common and serious ligament injury in horses, often affecting sports horses.

A ligament strain, characterized by stretching and mild swelling.

A mild ligament tear, more severe than a strain, with increased swelling and potential lameness.

Severe ligament tears (Type III) and massive tearing (Type IV), resulting in severe lameness and significant swelling.

A suspensory injury occurring in the upper third of the ligament, often called proximal suspensory desmitis.

A suspensory injury affecting the main part of the ligament.

A suspensory ligament injury affecting the branches of the ligaments that extend towards the fetlock.

The process of determining the cause of a lameness, swelling, or heat in a horse's leg

A diagnostic technique where a vet examines the leg by touching it to detect injuries.

A diagnostic tool used to precisely evaluate soft tissue injuries (like ligaments) in horses.

A slow process that requires rest, but can be supported through treatments to increase blood flow.

A veterinary assessment of how the horse moves, to identify subtle lameness or problems.

Restricting a horse's movement in the acute phase to reduce inflammation, and encourage healing.

Treatment strategies used to support ligament healing. It usually requires multiple treatments.

Lameness in both legs of the horse.

The length of time a horse remains in a stall to rest after an injury. It varies based on the horse, owner, vet, and injury severity.

Gentle movement for a horse recovering from injury, increasing gradually in duration after stall rest.

Routine check-ups using ultrasound to monitor healing after injury. Performed at specific intervals after starting rehabilitation.

Phase of equine rehabilitation where the horse is started walking with tack on after hand-walking is completed.

Drugs to alleviate pain in injured horses. Use with caution and consultation to avoid long-term harm.

Support for ligament injuries to aid in healing by reducing inflammation.

Method to reduce inflammation in injured horse legs by application of ice or cold water, especially in early stages of injury.

The recommended time for a horse to fully recover from injury, including stages of rest, hand walking, tack walking, trotting and return to work.

A non-invasive treatment using light energy to stimulate healing. Higher intensity lasers penetrate deeper tissues.

High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) delivers deeper tissue penetration compared to Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT).

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) uses sound waves to stimulate healing. Potential benefits include increased blood flow and pain reduction.

ESWT can disrupt collagen and cause minor bone cracks, requiring post-treatment exercise restrictions.

Using undifferentiated cells to repair damaged tissue by stimulating healing and recruiting other stem cells.

Stem cells for ligament repair are extracted from the horse's own fat tissue or bone marrow.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy involves injecting concentrated platelets into the injury site to encourage healing.

PRP has shown potential for promoting stronger tissue growth, especially in cases of tendonitis and ligament desmitis.

A traditional Chinese medicine practice used to treat ligament injuries in horses by reducing pain, swelling, and scar tissue while promoting blood flow and nerve regeneration.

A balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals, along with a healthy weight, helps promote ligament repair and overall health in horses.

A Chinese herb that promotes blood flow by stimulating nitric oxide production, potentially aiding ligament healing.

Joint health supplements that may aid in ligament recovery, although their effectiveness in horses is uncertain.

A substance that encourages collagen production, vital for ligament repair, although its effects on horses when taken as a supplement are not well understood.

A crucial antioxidant that promotes collagen production in bones and soft tissues, potentially aiding ligament recovery.

Important building blocks of protein that are essential for tissue repair, particularly important for horses.

A readily available form of sulfur that is critical for creating proteins rich in methionine and cysteine, essential for ligament health.