Equine patellar ligament injuries are rare but can occur in jumping horses. The middle patellar ligament is the most commonly affected. Lameness is variable but can be severe in acute cases.
Clinical signs of patellar ligament injuries in horses are often subtle; femoropatellar joint effusion, periligamentous thickening, and edema are inconsistent findings.
In many horses, lameness due to patellar ligament injury is unchanged by intra-articular anesthesia of the femoropatellar joint; therefore, diagnosis is confirmed by ultrasonography. Treatment is prolonged rest (up to 6 months).
Lameness is often slow to resolve and can recur.
For More Information
Gottlieb R, Whitcomb MB, Vaughan B, Galuppo LD Spriet M. Ultrasonographic appearance of normal and injured lateral patellar ligaments in the equine stifle. Equine Vet J. 2016;48(3):299-306.
Also see pet owner content regarding disorders of the stifle in horses.
