What Is A Meniscus Tear In A Horse?

What are Meniscus and Meniscal Ligament Injuries? Meniscal injuries are the most common cause of lameness seen in the stifle joint, which can be mild to chronically severe. Horses that routinely jump, often while performing, are at a high risk of stifle joint damage.

Can a horse recover from a torn meniscus?

Results: A series of 80 meniscal injuries were diagnosed and treated arthroscopically by the authors at the Liphook Equine Hospital and 47% of horses returned to full use.

Can a meniscus tear fix itself?

In the case of meniscus tears, some people think the injury will heal over time on its own. But the truth is that there are different types of meniscus tears — and some tears won’t heal without treatment. If your tear is on the outer one-third of the meniscus, it may heal on its own or be repaired surgically.

Where is the meniscus on a horse?

The menisci are two semicircular horseshoe-shaped structures which lie within the stifle joints, between the tibia and femur (thigh bone), and together act as a cushion and stabiliser of the joint.

What is the equine meniscus?

The meniscus is a disc of connective tissue lying between the femur and tibia in the stifle joint. Because there are two “sides” of the stifle—an inner or medial aspect and an outer or lateral aspect—there are two menisci in each stifle joint, one on each side.

What helps a meniscus tear heal?

Treatment

• Rest. Avoid activities that aggravate your knee pain, especially any activity that causes you to twist, rotate or pivot your knee.
• Ice. Ice can reduce knee pain and swelling.
• Medication. Over-the-counter pain relievers also can help ease knee pain.

How long does a meniscus tear take to mend?

Typically, mild meniscus tears heal within two to three weeks. Symptoms of moderate meniscus tears or strains: Pain at the side or center of the knee.

What happens if you don’t fix a meniscus tear?

An untreated meniscus tear can result in the frayed edge getting caught in the joint, causing pain and swelling. It can also result in long term knee problems such as arthritis and other soft tissue damage.

Is a meniscus tear serious?

Thankfully, meniscal tears are usually not serious injuries, although they can seriously hurt! Sudden meniscal tears can occur when twisting on your knee or squatting deeply. The episodes of pain and swelling afterward should go away with time.

Will walking on a torn meniscus make it worse?

Continuing to walk on the affected leg can aggravate your symptoms, making pain and stiffness worse in as little as a few days. Plus, suffering a torn meniscus may also increase your risk of complications, like developing osteoarthritis in that knee.

What happens if a horse tears its ACL?

Complete rupture of a cruciate ligament is usually a catastrophic injury resulting in severe lameness and joint instability. Strains and partial rupture of the cranial and caudal cruciate ligaments may result in variable lameness, depending on the severity of injury.

Do horses have a meniscus?

Injuries to the menisci and the meniscal ligaments are a common cause of stifle lameness in adult horses.

How do you know if a horse has torn a ligament?

In severe cases of ligament injury the presence of heat, swelling and pain on palpation may be present to aid localisation of injury and ultrasound will likely confirm diagnosis. In other cases which are more subtle or involved within the hoof a full lameness investigation might be required.

Can the meniscus wear away?

Meniscus injuries
Like many parts of the body, the meniscus can wear down with age. Tears are more common among men and women over age 30. More than 40% of people age 65 or older have torn their meniscus at some point.

What are 3 signs of a meniscus injury?

Symptoms of a meniscus tear include:

• Pain in the knee.
• Swelling.
• A popping sensation during the injury.
• Difficulty bending and straightening the leg.
• A tendency for your knee to get “stuck” or lock up.

How do you stabilize the meniscus?

A hinged knee brace provides a high level of support to control instability at the front and sides of your knee. If your meniscus is torn on both sides, this brace may offer the best support.

How do you fix a torn meniscus without surgery?

Nonsurgical Treatments for Meniscus Tears

1. Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Your doctor may recommend the RICE regimen—rest, ice, compression, and elevation—to treat a meniscus tear.
2. Pain Relief Medications.
3. Physical Therapy.
4. Corticosteroid Injections.
5. Biologic Injections.

How painful is a meniscus tear?

A torn meniscus usually produces well-localized pain in the knee. The pain often is worse during twisting or squatting motions. Unless the torn meniscus has locked the knee, many people with a torn meniscus can walk, stand, sit, and sleep without pain.

How long does a meniscus tear take to heal without surgery?

Meniscus tears are the most frequently treated knee injuries. Recovery will take about 6 to 8 weeks if your meniscus tear is treated conservatively, without surgery. If your symptoms persist after 3 months or your symptoms become significant, your doctor may recommend surgery to repair the tear.

What causes a meniscus tear?

A torn meniscus is often caused by a twisting movement of the knee while bearing weight. A torn meniscus causes pain, locking, or clicking, and weakness of the knee. Exercises, medicine, and arthroscopy may be used to treat a torn meniscus.

Is it worth fixing a torn meniscus?

When possible, it’s better to fix the meniscus than to remove it. If the meniscus can be fixed, you have a lower risk of future joint problems. Your doctor will likely suggest the treatment that he or she thinks will work best for you based on where the tear is, the pattern of the tear, and how big it is.