title: Clinical outcome of collateral ligament injuries of the tarsus.
abstract: The significance of collateral ligament desmitis of the tarsocrural joint is often clinically underestimated, because it is an uncommon injury with a guarded prognosis for athletic soundness. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical presentation, treatment, and outcome of 12 horses with collateral ligament desmitis, along with tarsocrural joint synovitis secondary to hemarthrosis. Criteria for inclusion in this study included clinical signs of tarsocrural joint synovitis and sonographic evidence of collateral ligament desmitis. This retrospective study evaluated horses over an 8-year period. Median follow-up after treatment was 5.5 years. Four horses in the study returned to their previous level of performance, 6 horses remained lame due to pain in the tarsus, 1 was euthanized, and 1 is in convalescence. This study highlights the importance of collateral ligament desmitis, and emphasizes the need for early, aggressive treatment to prevent the development of osteoarthritis.
authors.affiliation: Oakridge Equine Hospital, 6675 East Waterloo Road, Edmond, Oklahoma 73034, USA. llamb_@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lamb
authors.forename: Chad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zubrod
authors.forename: Brent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hague
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brakenhoff
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Major
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017885:Collateral Ligaments / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006395:Hemarthrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006736:Horses / Q000293:injuries*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D007794:Lameness, Animal; D008297:Male; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013643:Tarsus, Animal / Q000293:injuries*; D016896:Treatment Outcome