Barbaro!!!!!!!

[DrBowtie]

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That looked like a nasty injury.

 

[PAThbrd]

That sucks.

How exciting (in a morbid sort of way) that the 4th years on Equine/LA Orthopedic Sx rotation at UPenn will get to see this awesome horse, though. (Barbaro is on his way to the New Bolton Center).

I feel sorry for him and his connections, and really anyone associated with the race, whether connections of the other horses or people watching. It is always a shame when something like this happens.

Before this thread turns into another ethics of horse racing debate, please remember that there is another thread going on about this and respect the connections of Barbaro. He is receiving top quality care and you can tell he is well loved from the clear devastation on the faces of those associated with him and well taken care of by the outstanding people (Dr. Larry Bramlage, Pimlico track vets and the University of Pennsylvania) that are in charge of his medical care.

 

[DrBowtie]

It really put a damper on the race. The excitement faded once Prado pulled up. I hope it isn't a fatal injury.

 

[dvm'08]

what was his injury?

 

[DrBowtie]

what was his injury?

Some sort of hind leg injury. He could barely stand on it while waiting for the equine ambulance.

 

[StealthDog]

"Dr. Larry Bramlage of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, said Barbaro suffered a fracture above and below the ankle."

Poor guy...

 

[Apollyon]

Two fractures - one above, one below the ankle (as per the vet at trackside). Sorry - I'm a human doc, and am not up on equine anatomy.

 

[Bill59]

Two fractures - one above, one below the ankle (as per the vet at trackside). Sorry - I'm a human doc, and am not up on equine anatomy.

That probably means a cannon bone (metatarsal) and P1. There's typically a lot of soft tissue injury with these as well -- vessels and tendons.

What a shame.

 

[DrBowtie]

That probably means a cannon bone (metatarsal) and P1. There's typically a lot of soft tissue injury with these as well -- vessels and tendons.

What a shame.

What kind of outlook for that injury? Career ending? Life ending?

 

[dvm'08]

So by ankle i assume they mean fetlock - but actually the tarsus of a human is equivalent to the hock in a horse.

a fracture in both the distal cannon bone, and in the proximal phalanx is bad news......

 

[dvm'08]

What kind of outlook for that injury? Career ending? Life ending?

not good - i'd speculate with career ending... maybe not life ending (but that will depend on treatment costs, prognosis etc.)

 

[Iain]

Very sad!!!

I have heard it was a P1 or P2 fracture - outlook really depends on what exactly happens -

Hopefully it is:

Unfortunately these things do explode and look like, which although they will try and put back together, as you can imagine it does not look good:

It is almost certain it is career ending (unless Dakota Fanning was at Pimlico today), but hopefully he will not have to be put to sleep - he has a long road to recovery ahead!

Knowing the owners, and Michael no expense will be spared for Barbaro!

Although I had heard where he was going (so I guess it is out there), I am not sure it should be made public - let him get better out of the spotlight!!!

 

[PAThbrd]

From the Bloodhorse

"According to Dr. Larry Bramlage, a prominent equine surgeon with the American Association of Equine Practitioners, Barbaro suffered a condylar fracture of the cannon bone in his right hind leg above the ankle. Below the ankle is a comminuted fracture (meaning it is in pieces) of the first phalanx and there is a piece off the sesamoid.

At New Bolton, Dr. Dean Richardson will be in charge, according to Bramlage."

Not looking to good 🙁

 

[Iain]

It is the later 🙁 🙁 🙁

We will have to see what happens - if he had not won the derby 2 weeks ago he would likely have already been put down!!

 

[Bill59]

What kind of outlook for that injury? Career ending? Life ending?

It's almost certainly the end of him racing. Whether they can salvage him for breeding will depend on how much damage there is to the blood supply ... and luck. Horses without leg injuries can break their leg coming out of anesthesia. Then there's potential laminitis, infections, the other hind limb breaking down from carrying the extra weight ... it's one of those things where a lot of things can happen, most of them bad.

But as a derby winner, he can earn more in the breeding shed then he could ever earn on the track, so I'm sure they will do everything possible to save him. I hope they can.

 

[Iain]

the other hind limb breaking down from carrying the extra weight ...

I have a question - why do they not put the horse in a sling to help support some of the weight? Sling sores? Possibility of repturing the baldder, or other organs?

 

[Bill59]

Sometimes they are put in a sling. There's a system called the Anderson sling (and probably others) that you can use to support nonambulatory horses. They use if for some anesthesia recoveries, a lot of neurologic diseases, some orthopedic conditions as well as rescuing horses from inaccessible locations.

 

[Iain]

I have seen them used for neurologic diseases however those were generally short stints, and wondered what the long term outlook was in regards to sores, and muscle loss, etc.

 

[Iain]

If the surgery is successful, Barbaro will be lowered into a large swimming pool before he is awakened — part of New Bolton's renowned recovery system that minimizes injury risk. The horse is fitted with a sling on the operating table, placed on a raft and lowered into the water, allowing it to safely flail until fully conscious.

After about an hour the horse is transported via monorail back to the stable. Richardson "anticipated the horse would have a pool recovery," Sweeney said.

I just read this - it sounds like he is in the right place.

 

[Iain]

Actual X-rays taken on the operating table.

 

[DrBowtie]

Actual X-rays taken on the operating table.

Wow. The Metal to Bone ratio is quite high.

 

[Iain]

Some better x-rays, and UPenns pool!

 

[PAThbrd]

Pretty cool. He looks awesome 🙂 Though apparently its still pretty touch and go concerning secondary complications with laminitis and infection.

Iain, where are you getting your pictures? They are by far the best I've seen through this whole ordeal.

 

[Bill59]

UPenn has some on their website:

http://www.vet.upenn.edu/newsandevents/news/BarbaroPhotos.htm

 

[Iain]

Those I just found on the net - I was sent some others, but can not display them for obvious reasons.