Very Common
Rare
OTHER DIAGNOSES CONSIDERED
Other conditions or ailments that might also need to be ruled out by a vet.
Diagnosis
Conditions or ailments that are the cause of a problem that you see - your observation.
Your vet may diagnose
Coffin Joint Arthritis, Low Ringbone
Synonyms: Phalangeal Exostosis
Summary
The coffin joint is the lowest joint in the equine limb, and is mostly surrounded by hoof. Swelling in the coffin joint can be seen right around the hairline of the hoof (coronet band).
Low ringbone is the horseman's term for the development of bone deposits around the coffin joint, where P2 (the short pastern bone) and P3 (the coffin bone) meet. The condition tends to be more common in the front limbs.
As a result of injury, stress or trauma to the coffin joint, the body reacts by laying down large quantities of bone in an "attempt to stabilize" the joint. This is associated with deposits or ridges of bone along the front or side of the coronary band, local pain, heat and gradually worsening lameness, and destruction of the cartilage of the joint.
This degenerative process is seen as a consequence of traumatic injury, including coffin bone fractures and chronic stress and wear, especially in horses with poor lower limb conformation. It is more common in heavy breeds and those that heavily impact the forelimbs in their work, such as jumpers.
By the time the hard swelling is visible just above the coronet band, the condition is usually far advanced and irreversible. However, when caught early, the disease process can be slowed with proper treatment.
Diagnosis may be obvious on clinical exam but may require blocking with x-ray and other imaging.
Treatment includes the large variety of treatments available for osteoarthritis.
Low ringbone is the horseman's term for the development of bone deposits around the coffin joint, where P2 (the short pastern bone) and P3 (the coffin bone) meet. The condition tends to be more common in the front limbs.
As a result of injury, stress or trauma to the coffin joint, the body reacts by laying down large quantities of bone in an "attempt to stabilize" the joint. This is associated with deposits or ridges of bone along the front or side of the coronary band, local pain, heat and gradually worsening lameness, and destruction of the cartilage of the joint.
This degenerative process is seen as a consequence of traumatic injury, including coffin bone fractures and chronic stress and wear, especially in horses with poor lower limb conformation. It is more common in heavy breeds and those that heavily impact the forelimbs in their work, such as jumpers.
By the time the hard swelling is visible just above the coronet band, the condition is usually far advanced and irreversible. However, when caught early, the disease process can be slowed with proper treatment.
Diagnosis may be obvious on clinical exam but may require blocking with x-ray and other imaging.
Treatment includes the large variety of treatments available for osteoarthritis.
my vet's role
Diagnostics Used
These are tests that might be helpful to make this diagnosis or further characterize the condition.
Treatments May Include
These treatments might be used to help resolve or improve this condition.
Very Common
-
Medications Injected into Joint, Tendon Sheath or Bursa
-
Change in Expectation
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Diclofenac Sodium Liposomal Cream (Surpass®)
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NSAIDs, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories, Generally
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Intravenous Sodium Hyaluronate Injection
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Joint Injection, Sodium Hyaluronate
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Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan (Adequan®)
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Shoeing or Trimming, Corrective Farriery
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Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy, ESWT
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Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Protein, IRAP
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Stem Cell Therapy, Generally
Less Common
PROGNOSIS AND RELEVANT FACTORS
Guarded to poor in the advanced stages. This disease is career-limiting for the majority of affected horses.The coffin joint is a high motion joint. Unlike the pastern joint, which has relatively small range of motion, surgical or chemical fusion of the coffin joint is not appropriate.
my role
I might observe
You might make these observations when a horse has this condition.
Very Common
Less Common
Rare
Skills I Might Need
I might need these skills if my horse has this diagnosis.
Questions To Ask Your Vet:
- What special shoeing considerations are there for this problem?
Prevention
Select horses of excellent conformation. Avoid injury by conditioning horses and trying not to overload the structures of the limb. Maintain excellent hoof care, on no more than an 8 week interval.
Be observant with respect to lameness and seek veterinary care early to prevent severe progression of signs in the joint. Be very aware of "going" (footing) upon which a horse performs.
further reading & resources
Helpful Terms and Topics
Written, reviewed or shared by experts in equine health