Page 373 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

forming. The technique has become less popular.

VetBooks.ir Neurectomy of the tibial and deep peroneal fibular) nerves

A partial tibial and deep peroneal neurectomy can be performed to relieve the pain from DJD
of the distal hock joints. A success rate of 60% has been reported. This is only performed as a
last resort.

PROGNOSIS

If caught in the early stages, a combination of light work, corrective trimming and shoeing,
intra-articular medication and/or NSAIDs may return the horse to soundness. However, the

prognosis is guarded for any horse with bone spavin. The condition is often bilateral, even if
the lameness is more obvious in one limb. Some horses will respond well to a long and gentle

warm up before doing any serious work, as this allows the initial stiffness to wear off.
It is difficult to predict which horses will become sound enough to continue their former

level of work. Previously, it was thought that if the horse could be kept in work to encourage
ankylosis of the affected joints, they were more likely to be pain free in the long term.

However, some horses with completely fused distal tarsal joints remain lame and others with
incomplete fusion may be sound. Each horse must be individually assessed.

DJD of the proximal interphalangeal joint (high ringbone)

The proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint has relatively little movement but has to bear the
weight of the horse on a small surface area. Thus it is known as a high-load, low-motion

joint. DJD or osteoarthritis of the PIP joint is known as high ringbone. The degenerative
changes affect the distal end of the proximal phalanx and the proximal end of the middle

phalanx. The condition is usually seen in older horses and is more common in the forelimbs
(Figure 8.12).