What is a common contemporary approach to manage PSD without immediate surgery?

What is a common contemporary approach to manage PSD without immediate surgery?

• A. Rest with graded exercise, anti-inflammatory therapy, regenerative medicine (PRP/stem cells), shockwave, and careful rehab monitoring.
• B. Immediate amputation.
• C. No treatment and rely on time.
• D. Only antibiotics.

Answer: (A)

Proximal suspensory desmitis (PSD) in horses is commonly treated without immediate surgery using a multimodal, conservative plan that aims to reduce pain, control inflammation, and promote tissue healing while gradually restoring function. Rest with graded, progressive exercise gives the suspensory ligament time to repair and remodel under controlled loading, avoiding further microtrauma. Anti-inflammatory therapy helps manage pain and inflammation that accompany PSD, making rehab more effective and tolerable for the horse.

Regenerative medicine, such as platelet-rich plasma or stem cell therapies, provides growth factors and cells that support tissue repair and may enhance healing of the damaged ligament. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy can stimulate blood flow and tissue remodeling, potentially accelerating recovery. Close rehab monitoring ensures the horse progresses appropriately, allowing adjustments if pain recurs or function declines.

This approach targets the underlying degenerative/inflammatory process and helps restore function without the risks and downtime associated with surgery. Immediate amputation would be inappropriate and drastic, relying on time alone ignores the active management that can improve outcomes, and antibiotics aren’t relevant since PSD is not an infection.