Management of Primary Injuries of the Medial Collateral Ligament of the Carpus in Two Horses.
Authors: Quiney Laura, Murray Rachel, Dyson Sue
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Management of Primary Medial Carpal Collateral Ligament Injuries Medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries of the carpus remain uncommon causes of forelimb lameness in horses, yet existing literature has typically reported poor outcomes for return to athletic work following conservative treatment. Quiney, Murray and Dyson's 2020 case report documents two horses managed with box rest combined with controlled exercise rehabilitation and high-intensity laser therapy (HILT), departing from the traditionally pessimistic prognosis associated with these injuries. Both horses achieved full return to their previous performance levels—one resuming Grand Prix dressage competition and the other returning to Novice eventing—suggesting that structured rehabilitation protocols may offer considerably better functional outcomes than previously anticipated. Whilst the case series cannot isolate whether HILT specifically contributed to these positive results or whether the controlled exercise programme alone was responsible, the findings merit reconsideration of prognosis when discussing primary MCL injuries with owners and may warrant further investigation into rehabilitation protocols for carpal collateral ligament pathology. For equine professionals managing forelimb lameness, this report provides evidence that primary MCL injuries need not be considered career-limiting when approached with appropriate conservative management.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Medial carpal collateral ligament injury may have better prognosis with appropriate management than previously documented in the literature.
- •Consider combining box rest, controlled exercise, and high-intensity laser therapy as a treatment protocol for carpal collateral ligament injuries.
- •Individual case outcomes should not be extrapolated; controlled trials are needed to determine if HILT provides additional benefit beyond conservative rehabilitation.
Key Findings
- •Two horses with medial carpal collateral ligament injury treated with box rest, controlled exercise, and high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) both returned to previous athletic function.
- •One horse returned to Grand Prix level dressage and one to Novice level eventing, suggesting improved prognosis compared to previously reported poor outcomes.
- •The relative contribution of HILT versus rehabilitation alone to the successful outcome remains unclear from this case report.