Update on suspensory branch injuries: diagnosis, conservative management and outcome

Suspensory ligament branch (SLB) injuries are common in sports horses and racehorses. In a weightbearing position, the dorsal and palmar margins of the SLBs should be should be parallel and equidistant from proximal to distal. Loss of parallel margins reflects injury. However, palpation can give false negative results [1–3]. There was a significant difference in the ability to detect palpable enlargement of an SLB compared with enlargement detected ultrasonographically [2]. Axial swelling cannot be detected. The SLBs are subsynovial with respect to the palmar/plantar pouches of the metacarpo/ metatarsophalangeal joints, so there may be distension of the palmar/plantar recess of the joint capsule in association with SLB injury ...