Suspensory ligament: desmitis - proximal

p equis

Contributor(s):

Ron Genovese

Graham Munroe

Vetstream Ltd

Synonym(s): PSD, high suspensory disease

Introduction

Cause: repetitive strain or single overloading injury, and/or body = most important cause of lameness in the metatarsal region; a common compensatory injury.
Signs: generally acute onset lameness in the forelimb but usually a chronic progressive problem in the hindlimb Musculoskeletal: gait evaluation , often no heat or swelling Musculoskeletal: physical examination - adult , unilateral > bilateral forelimbs, but bilateral cases more common in the hindlimbs.
Diagnosis: regional anesthesia Forelimb: perineural analgesia , ultrasonography Ultrasonography: musculoskeletal , radiography Forelimb: radiography Hindlimb: radiography , scintigraphy Bone: scintigraphy .
Treatment: strict box rest, anti-inflammatories Therapeutics: anti-inflammatory drugs +/- physiotherapy, controlled exercise for minimum 3 months, intra- or periligamentous injections of various therapeutic agents, various surgical techniques.
Prognosis: potentially much more serious a condition in the hindlimb than the forelimb; guarded for forelimb and hindlimb acute PSD, poor for chronic hindlimb PSD.
See also:
- SDFT: tendinitis SDFT: tendinitis .
- Deep digital flexor tendon: tendinitis Deep digital flexor tendon: tendinitis .
- Suspensory ligament: desmitis - midbody Suspensory ligament: desmitis - midbody .

Print off the Owner factsheet on Suspensory ligament injuries to give to your clients.

Probably result of cyclical fatigue and repair processes.
Ligament strain +/- avulsion fracture of third metacarpal/metatarsal bone MC / MT 3: fracture .
Chronicity → hyperextension of the metatarsophalangeal joint (dropped fetlocks) .
Persistent lameness in hindlimbs may be caused by a compartment-like syndrome and pressure on the adjacent plantar metatarsal nerves.
See SDFT: tendinitis SDFT: tendinitis .