What comprises the horse's knee? The horse's knee would be equivalent to the human wrist. "...Equine knees are made up of two rows of bones that flex in three different places-though markedly less in the bottom joint. Add to that stack of bones an extensive network of tendons and ligaments, and you have a sophisticated structure that's crucial to the horse's athleticism...and also one that's susceptible to injury...."
There are a myriad of causes for knee problems in horses:
- Angular Limb Deformities in newborns
- Over at the knee - "A horse that is 'over at the knee' is not predisposed to carpal degenerative joint disease, because the knee is designed to flex...however, the condition can precipitate premature flexion of the carpus when the leg is fully weight-bearing. This can cause a sudden increase of tension on the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), with the potential to stretch or tear tendon fibers to result in a bowed tendon. If severe the carpal canal becomes inflamed, causing a problem similar to carpal tunnel syndrome in humans."
- Hygroma - An acquired bursa usually the result of trauma.
- Chip fractures Knee chips
- Carpal osteoarthritis (OA) Developmental Orthopedic Disease (DOD)
For more detailed information:
Horse Knees: The Crooked, Chipped and Inflamed
Shady Arabian Horses/Word Press Click on the picture of the horse knee to enlarge.
