Equestrian Life Magazine September Issue 220 | Page 87

All You Need to
Know About...

Suspensory Ligament
Injuries
Suspensory injuries as a
whole can affect all horses
whether athletes or pleasure
rides. However, due to their
occupation, it is athletic
horses that are at greater risk
of such injuries with some
being serious enough to end
an athletic horse’s career or
lifestyle.

What is the
suspensory
ligament?
Ligaments are strong, flexible
connective tissue bands that
attach bones to each other. In
contrast, tendons attach muscle
to bone.
A suspensory ligament is a
specialised fibrous tissue that
supports an organ. Examples
in humans being suspensory
ligaments supporting structures
like the lens of the eye or ovary.

Established, Professional Equine Care
The Bakewell Equine Clinic is the only
dedicated Equine Unit in the area. Our
experienced Equine Vets provide a 24h
ambulatory service or you can bring
your horse in to the clinic. Whether for
a lameness work up, fertility treatment,
dentistry, pre-purchase examination or
any other health problem your horse is
in the best hands.

it could before being overstretched.
Common injuries of the
suspensory ligament most often
occur through over-extension of
the fetlock during the maximal
weight-bearing that occurs at
the middle of the stance phase of
the stride. Some risk factors may
predispose horses to suspensory
ligament injuries for example;
conformation, poor foot balance,
fast work and previous injuries.

Digital X-ray
Video Gastroscope
Ultrasound

Signs of suspensory injuries can
be quite varied. Acute or recent
injuries are often characterised
by heat, swelling and pain
on palpation. Lameness can
vary from mild to severe and
may o ften only last a few days,
however, chronic injuries often
result in an intermittent or
persistent lameness.

Shockwave
JMB measurement
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24h Appointment and Enquiry Service 01629 810351

Unit 14, Deepdale Business Park, Buxton Road, Bakewell DE45 1GT

The most common sites for
injuries are:

•

Bakewell Veterinary Clinic Ltd, Milford Farm, Bakewell, DE45 1DX

Proximal suspensory desmitis =
injury to the upper third of the
ligament.

•

There are currently multiple
products and techniques
available to help improve healing
of ligament injuries. Some show
promise but others are not
documented to be effective.

This is common in equine
athletes in all disciplines. This
can be difficult to diagnose at
first as the suspensory ligament
is impossible to feel in the upper
proportion of the cannon region
as it lies between the splint
bones.

•
In horses, the primary function
of the suspensory ligament is to
prevent excessive extension of
the fetlock during the weightbearing or stance phase of the
stride. The suspensory ligament
attaches to the back of the
cannon bone just below the knee
and extends about two thirds
of the way down the cannon
bone where it divides into two
branches attaching to the inside
and outside sesamoid bones at
the back of the fetlock.

Suspensory Injuries
Ligament injuries (sprains) occur
when the load placed on it
exceeds the combined strength
of the entire ligament. The injury
itself is similar to stretching a
piece of elastic too far so that
it does not return to its original
size and cannot sustain the load

Suspensory body desmitis =
injury to the middle third of the
ligament.

This most commonly occurs in
forelimbs. It is often easier to
diagnose but seen less frequently.

•

Damage to the branches
attaching to the inside and
outside of the sesamoid bones
at the level of the fetlock.

This injury is most commonly
seen in Thoroughbred racehorses
and athletic horses that jump. It
can also be associated with poor
foot balance.

What to look out for:
A ligament injury can be
recognised early as swelling
and heat which can be painful
to touch. Lameness is also
associated with ligament injuries
although the lack of lameness
does not mean that there is not a
significant injury.

Patience and commitment

Diagnosis:
It is important to seek veterinary
attention if you are at all worried
about a suspensory injury as
they will be able to determine
the location and severity of such
an injury. The vet may use an
ultrasound machine, nerve blocks
or nuclear scintigraphy in order
to determine the location of the
injury.

Treatment:
•
•
•

Bandaging and cold hosing will
usually reduce the heat and
swelling
Farriery to correct any poor
foot balance
Box rest with a steady exercise
regime complimentary to
medical treatment

Most horses will return to
some level of work following
appropriate treatment although
the possibilities of further
damage to the ligament are
relatively high. The prognosis
cannot be predetermined
and depends on many factors
including; the site of the injury,
the duration of the injury, the
severity of the injury and the
future athletic performance
expected of the horse.
The key to success of returning
your horse to work regardless
of medical therapy is regular
ultrasound evaluations to
monitor the healing progression.
It is important to remember
that some injuries heal slower
than others but patience and
commitment to the treatment
plan will give your horse the
best chance to have your horse
returned to previous level of
function.
Helen Sear BVSc MRCVS, Veterinary
Surgeon. Bakewell Equine Clinic,
Unit 14, Deepdale Business Park,
Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1GT

www.equestrianlifemagazine.co.uk

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