Equine Bone Chip Rehabilitation

Bone Chip Rehabilitation

Bone chips found in either the knee or fetlock are relatively common in athletic horses.  They can be a result of intense training.   The bone chips are benign themselves; however,  the chips cause discomfort due to compromising the affected joints' movement.  They are usually removed surgically.

Historically, the rehabilitation program has been to keep the horse resting in his/her stall fro 2-4 weeks depending on the size and/or location of the chips.   This is typically followed by handwalks and slow return to work.  

With the HUGE advancements in human sports medicine recently, equine therapists are beginning to see the value of an active rehabilitation program.   With active rehabilitation, the patients keeps their fitness and strength levels during the rehabilitation period.  The therapists also have tools to relieve inflammation and range of motion exercises as well as deal with any compensatory problems.  As we have learned from professional athletes, the improvement in surgical techniques as well as an agressive rehabilitation program will help bring these equine athletes back strong and balanced.

Bone Chip Rehabilitation Protocal:

Post Surgery: 

 Therapeutic laser treatments on surgery site.  3x/week for 2 weeks

 five minute hand walks 2x/day,  cryotherapy (cold) 2x/day

14 days Post Surgery: 

Stitches removed,  10 minute walks 2x/day.   Vibration plate daily for 10 min at low setting.  Range of motion exercises and Cryotherapy (cold) daily.

30 days Post Surgery:

20 minute walks daily (increase 5 minutes/week) - walk over poles/cavaletti's helps increase range of motion, Introduce water treadmill - water at fetlock level 3x/week.  Vibration plate daily for 20 minutes.

60 days Post Surgery:

Begin short trot sets and increasing water level (every other day).  Vibration plate daily for 20 minutes and begin increasing work load.  

This active rehabilitation helps to improve the prognosis of the horse. Following the protocols of professional athletic trainers, the equine therapists are finding that many of their horses are returning to work stronger and better equipped to continue their careers.

www.eclipse-equine.com 

Suspensory ligament lesion with Sesamoid fracture

4 year old TB Stallion came to Eclipse from Santa Anita with a longitudinal lesion to the Suspensory ligament with a fractured Sesamoid bone which was repaired surgically at the track.   His prognosis to return to racing was FAIR.

Treatment began with FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation) therapy to the suspensory ligament followed by cold salt water spa therapy.  He received FES treatments three times/week and received Salt water spa therapy daily.  

After 30 days, he began with 5 min handwalker twice daily.  We continued to treat his ligament with FES and salt water spa therapy.

At the 90 day point, we had the ligament ultrasounded and determined the treatment plan was going wll.    We continued with the handwalks and began Underwater treadmill sessions with very shallow water for 5 minutes in duration.   We began with a depth of mid-cannon bone and treatments were 3x/week with a day off in between.  

At 120 days (4 months), we were able to turn him out in a very small (supervised) paddock.   This helped him with his mental well being as he was beginning to get a bit stirred up at this point.  

At 150 days (5 months), he had increased his time in the Underwater treadmill to 10 minutes and was now at a depth of hock level.   We followed his Underwater treadmill sessions with Salt water spa.  The depth of hock level is ideal for suspensory ligaments injuries, because the horse tends to increase his range of motion in the lower limb joints.  This helps decrease chances of scar tissue and adhesions.  

At 6 months, we began walking under saddle with alternate days in the Underwater treadmill.  He was now walking in the Underwater treadmill for 20 minutes and we followed this with Cold Salt Spa.

At 9 months, he was in full work under saddle alternating with Underwater treadmill.  We followed his riding work with the Cold Salt Water Spa.   At this point, he received another Ultrasound and was cleared to go back into full race training.  He returned to his trainer and returned to race training.