Soft tissue injuries of the hock are a relatively common injury in adult sports horses and should be considered if there is swelling in the hock region but where there are no, or minimal, radiographic abnormalities.  This talk will focus on the diagnostic methods, in particular the ultrasonographic appearance and management of these injuries – including medial and lateral collateral ligament injuries of the tarsocrural joint, and the variety of pathology on the plater aspect affecting the hock extensors (gastrocnemius and superficial digital flexor tendon), the deep digital flexor tendon, and their accompanying tendon sheaths and bursae.  Management methods include both conservative and surgical approaches and the talk will aim to help the veterinarian determine the best management strategy for each of the described injuries.

• After listening to this lecture, delegates should be able to:
• •Differentiate common tissue injuries of the hock from their clinical and ultrasonographic appearance
• •Learn the ultrasonographic technique for scanning the hock
• •Identify which conditions warrant a surgical approach and the surgical techniques available
• •Formulate a management strategy for each injury