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  Discussion on Size of hoof change after neurectomy?
Author Message
Member:
Buddil

Posted on Friday, Jun 6, 2003 - 6:22 pm:

My 9yo gelding has had navicular synDrOme that has been unsuccessfully treated by shoeing/isoxsuprene and coffin joint injections for over a year now. Current xrays show an increase in vascular channels in both navicular bones and blocked completely sound on the nerve block. His more effected hoof has gotten significantly smaller over the last 6 months. He is going to be nerved next week and I am wondering if anyone that has had their horse nerved had noticed if the hoof had returned to the previous size or increased at all in size after nerving. Dr. O., would love your comment on this if possible! Thanks, Cathy
Member:
Shirl

Posted on Friday, Jun 6, 2003 - 6:41 pm:

Cathy, I had a partial neurectomy done on my mare several years ago, and have noticed no change in her hoof size. After-care is extremely important.
Good luck, Shirl
Member:
Buddil

Posted on Friday, Jun 6, 2003 - 8:37 pm:

Shirley, thanks for your reply. This has been a hard decision for me and I am nervous about the outcome and what the future holds. I will just be glad when the chronic pain is gone for him. How long has it been since you nerved you mare and did you have any problems with it? Thanks so much for your comments, they mean so much!

Cathy
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Jun 6, 2003 - 9:28 pm:

I too have not noticed a change in hoof size but have had several chronically lame horses return to long and sucessful careers following neurectomy.
DrO
Member:
Buddil

Posted on Friday, Jun 6, 2003 - 9:37 pm:

Thanks Dr. O, that helps ease my mind. It is a decision nobody wants to have to make but from many of the people that I have read postings on they have had success for quite a long time, longer than they used to. They must have either found a more successfull procedure in the last few years or the aftercare of shoeing has greatly improved.

Cathy
Member:
Shirl

Posted on Monday, Jun 9, 2003 - 11:17 am:

Hi Cathy,
I don't have a computer at home, so use my office machine, thus I'm slow in answering. Sorry. I'd have to get my papers out, and I will, but it has to have been 10 years or more since it was done. Everything went a long very smoothly, except she was too heavy at the time, causing undo pressure on her kidney (she was completely 'out' laying on her back)area and we brought her home the same day as surgery was done (big mistake). She 'tied up' and required 4 bags of IVs to bring her around but no problem-she recovered fine. I had to hand walk her daily for 15 minutes at a time,for two weeks and toward the end she was feeling very frisky at having no pain in ages, we had a lot of rain at that time, and I had her tied to a tree that had a small puddle of water around it. Even though she was not standing in water, she must have seen her relection in it (hates water) and bolted, breaking her lead rope snap and off she galloped back to the barn. Not good. A week later she was dead lame. Everyone thought it was a neuroma, but my vet at the time felt is was damage done from the gallop. She, being a Eastern/Western vet had me apply holistic material to the wound area every 4 hours for 4 days, and she recovered fine.
Both of those issues could be avoided. Live and Learn. Another bit of advice: when it's time to remove the stitches, be certain they ALL come out. This is hard to believe, but 4 years after the surgery, she again became lame, again everyone thought "neuroma". Again the vet had us put holistic medicine on the area, and after 5 days of this, her care-giver went to apply yet another 'spray' and low and behold, there appeared a stitch, dry, no infection, just a stitch.Voila - no more lameness. Again those are things to watch for, and things that can be avoided. She has been sound up until one year ago, and now has developed an adhesion on the flexor tendon, but is happy being retired for the most part. Is on Bute to keep her comfortable. However the latter has nothing to do with surgery.
All I can say is - it can work. Just be cautious with after care, and follow the surgeons directions carefully. Anymore questions, feel free to e-mail me personally at sj52236@qwest.net.
Prayers are with you both. Shirley
Member:
Buddil

Posted on Monday, Jun 9, 2003 - 12:06 pm:

Thank you SO much for the info! I am overly cautious with everything I do with him, he is my big 1550 lb baby! I plan to do things by the Dr.'s orders, even more so! I have heard many success stories lately and that makes me feel at ease. He is a dressage horse so we have no obstacles to jump and is turned out on a flat 10 acre pasture with quiet buddies, another that is also nerved. Wood fences, no wire whatsoever.

Best of luck to you, Shirley, and thanks again!

Cathy
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