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  Discussion on Stringhalt surgery, any technique improvements lately?
Author Message
Member:
jjet

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 7, 2007 - 2:13 pm:

I read your article on stringhalt. I have a horse I adore, having owned him since birth, who suffered a severe rear leg injury at 3 years. I know that tenomyectomy of a portion of the lateral digital extensor tendon and muscle would be the recommended treatment for this condition.

Your article still says a fair prognosis is the probable outcome. I did not have this done initially because of the estimated only fifty percent chance that it would be helpful.

His walk has a large high step with that leg. I started him for riding anyway, but the height that his hip rises with that leg just is not comfortable for riding. His intelligence, and super bright attitude (like he is just dieing for you to teach him things), make it seem like a crime to not give him some kind of job. And did I mention his great looks?

My question is, have any advances in the surgical technique been made in the past few years that might increase the odds of a favorable outcome?
Anyway, I have been reconsidering the surgery. What do you think?
Member:
cmora

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 7, 2007 - 8:02 pm:

Jan,
I dont have any thoughts on the surgery question but do have a general question for you since I have a horse that one vet says has stringhalt and another vet says UFP. I'm getting Dr O a video clip of my horse this weekend for his opinion. But, I saw your post and thought I would ask you about your horse as a matter of consensus.

Can you see the awkward step at a gate other than a walk? All the time? Has exercise improved him at all?

My guy turns 4 this year and is just starting under saddle so I dont know yet if exercise will have a positive effect on his situation or not.
Member:
jjet

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 7, 2007 - 8:59 pm:

Cheryl,
His gait looks normal at the trot and gallop. It is the walk and when he is backing that it really shows. He used to have periods when it would seem to get much better for a short while but would always come back. Other than that, he always exhibits the big step. Exercise hasn't helped him.

His stringhalt is due only to trauma to that leg (as opposed to the other causes). The gait began at the very end of nearly a year long recovery period. It started when the nerves finally grew back together, I guess. The vet cut off the entire flap of skin and tissue that had been injured, so there was a huge area of cannon bone exposed. It took daily dressing changes for months and months, only to have the stringhalt exhibit just when we thought we were home free.

It was heartbreaking, but he is such an exceptional personality we could never part with him.
Member:
cmora

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 7, 2007 - 10:01 pm:

Thanks for your response Jan.

.........I know how you feel.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Feb 10, 2007 - 12:29 pm:

Hello Jan,
Sorry for the delay in reply but I did want to review a recently published article. In this article they reviewed the surgery as described in our article and in 13 cases they had excellent results in 11 cases suggesting a better prognosis than previously published. I have not seen any newer techniques described. I have placed a description of the surgery as done in the reference but it is pretty much the routine procedure.
DrO
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