Barbaro Standing After Day Long Surgery (ESPN)

ESPN ^

[Paul8148]

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. -- Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro came out of a day-long surgery Sunday to repair three broken bones in his right rear leg and "practically jogged back to the stall," the colt's surgeon said.

[Erasmus]

This is horsie talk for making the beast with two backs?

Well, in the case of horsies, it's the beast with one back, one front, and eight legs.

< ]B^)

[beyond the sea]

I have a question, maybe you can answer it. I looked at the x-ray of all the "screws" used in the surgery. If the horse should live and everything is successful as could be expected, will all those screws be left by doctors where they are presently.

I ask this because there are a number of the screws that are basically in a vertical position and hold different bones together. It seems that the horse would have little or no ability to bend its ankle area if he should survive if those screws remained.

I was wondering if these "vertical" pins or screws would be permanent.

It would be more than wonderful if the horse would just survive through all this, but I was wondering about his ability to walk well enough.

Just wondering.

[Sally'sConcerns]

I'll respond to my best guess and based on my own history.

All of the pins/screws will remain permanently in place as they are strategically placed to maintain the permanent fusion. The only time any of them would be removed is if they were to 'come loose' in some way.

My dog was hit by a car, had surgery with screws in his hip and we had to watch during the healing process for the feeling of the screws to see if they'd start to not feel as flat along the bone.

My neck has screws and a titanium rod and the neuro watched that as I was healing.

Both dog and I still have all of our hardware.

[beyond the sea]

Thank you for that. But may I just ask again, in the case of the horse .......... would this then mean that Barbero would have very limited movement (flexibility) in his ankle area in the following years.

I know his life is by far the much more important concern, but I was just wondering if he does survive the next months, would he eventually be able to move around a pasture with some normal gait?

Many prayers for Barbero.

[Sally'sConcerns]

Thank you for that. But may I just ask again, in the case of the horse .......... would this then mean that Barbero would have very limited movement (flexibility) in his ankle area in the following years.

Yep, that's what the fusion does. It stabilizes the bone but at a great loss of flexibility depending upon the amount of hardware used. I have 4 of my cervical vertebra fused together and have very limited motion but I'm still here. I would imagine with as extensive an amount of hardware as Barbaro has, there will be a change to the gait but the body is kind of a neat thing in that other area's help to compensate for the loss of motion. As an example, my back vertebra have compensated for my loss by becoming more flexible.

[beyond the sea]

I would imagine with as extensive an amount of hardware as Barbaro has, there will be a change to the gait but the body is kind of a neat thing in that other area's help to compensate for the loss of motion. As an example, my back vertebra have compensated for my loss by becoming more flexible.

You are so right about the body being able to compensate. I'm 59, played a few sports at a high level years ago, and had my share of injuries, even broke my ankle once back in '68. I have also seen, like you, how other parts of our bodies can compensate for the limitations of other parts.

Thanks for your replies, and I'm praying for this good horse to do well and live through this terrible injury.

And thanks to the great doctors.

[hershey]

God bless him and everyone involved. Great news!

[Rte66]

Acck! Being where you are, you're lucky you didn't have this guy for a surgeon - remember the doc who used a screwdriver shaft?:

http://209.157.64.201/focus/f-news/1596529/posts?page=1#1

http://209.157.64.201/focus/f-news/1596529/posts?page=32#32

[Rte66]

Hey. I just saw Mrs. Jackson on the overnight news again and her hair is darker - redder - than I remembered, so that's not who would be in that pic. I was misremembering her as more strawberry blonde. *Oh well, sorry 'bout that.*

[panthermom]

I used to work with thoroughbreds, at the track and at a rehab facility where we did pool therapy. We mostly had horses with bowed tendons, shin splints and stress fractures, never anything as bad as this. Reading the description of the injuries made me want to gag. I couldn't ever watch it anymore. Its wonderful that equine medicine come this far. First thing out of my sons mouth this morning was, "Mom, it looks like Barbaro will be o.k."

[Hegewisch Dupa]

the issue was never about him racing again - it was life or death. However, if the outcome is life, it's a life of going to stud. We should all be so lucky...

[Eclectica]

Horses are too big to roll around in wheelchairs

It would have to be a large wheelchair, but they make devices similar to training wheels for dogs with mobility issues. (Spinal- and leg- injuries).

One suitable for a horse would allow him to run around, circulate blood, but not overstress the leg. 'Wonder why "training wheels" weren't considered for this horse?

[Jemian]

This is horsie talk for making the beast with two backs?

Yes. It refers to sexual intercourse.

[Dustbunny]

Hopefully AI is allowed.

[Pajamajan]

I couldn't believe Barbaro got hurt like he did. I really couldn't believe that they loaded him back in the starting gate after he broke through- I was expecting the race to be delayed, that they'd have to take all the horses out, have the state vet examine him, and then either scratch him or let him re-start the race.

From my viewing of the race, it looks like he wrenched the ankle when he broke through the gate before the start.( I re-viewed the image several times-it seems clear that his back leg/ankle went sort of side-ways from the exertion) . That he was able to take a few good strides afterward was possibly due to adrenaline in his system- maybe he didn't feel it at first?

I think the powers that be simply forgot that -first and foremost- racehorses are fragile animals. They assumed everything was ok. They made a tragic mistake. That said:-

Thank the Lord for the good news! But, Barbaro still has a long, long way to go. As his vet said- this is just the beginning.

While it is tragic that Barbaro sustained such a terrible injury, it is also amazing that he does have a chance to recover due to advances in veterinary medicine. This is a side of the horse racing story the public doesn't get to hear about very often.
(As a side note- you'd be surprised how often some advance/discovery in vet medicine will end up helping humans, and vice-versa)

What a terrific job his veterinary team did with the surgery- the X-ray photo's show how complex it was. These are very dedicated people.( From what I understand, the horse is at one of the best facilities in the world.)

Prayers to St. Francis of Assisi for the full recovery of Barbaro.

[Paleo Conservative]

Hopefully AI is allowed.

I don't think it is in thoroughbred racing.

[Pajamajan]

AI isn't allowed for thoroughbred race horses. It has to be done the old fashioned way.

[Jemian]

It isn't allowed for thoroughbreds. Not only does it have to be natural cover but it needs to be witnessed. This insures that insemination is done by the stallion claimed. Semen from one horse looks an awful lot like semen from another horse.

[Dustbunny]

Semen from one horse looks an awful lot like semen from another horse.

LOL .... yes I know.

Hopefully he will recover. Wonder if the breaks in his leg was a genetic problem?

[Jemian]

That's what I'm wondering. But even so, I bet there is an owner or trainer thinking they could breed that imperfection out in order to get his speed.