Dr. Phillip Kapraun received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. With more than 40 years of experience practicing veterinary medicine, Dr. Phillip Kapraun treats a range of equine lameness conditions, including those affecting the suspensory ligament.
Suspensory ligament injuries commonly occur in horses, yet often get misdiagnosed or remain undiagnosed for a period due to several reasons. These injuries typically present with no physical cues, as there is minimal or no noticeable swelling in the limb, which may only cause mild or intermittent lameness. Most horses with suspensory injuries are affected bilaterally and will shorten their stride rather than limp. They may display symptoms such as pain in the sacroiliac region of the back and poor performance.
Radiographs generally show little evidence of a suspensory ligament injury, and lameness exams can also fail to diagnose the problem. Some horses with suspensory injuries show a brief response to systemic medications or joint injections, which can falsely lead to a misdiagnosis of a joint-related problem.
