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  Discussion on Experimental Surgery on Nav Disease
Author Message
Member:
brandi

Posted on Friday, Aug 21, 2009 - 11:04 am:

2 years ago we did what my surgeon calls a T-ligament fenestration on Apache's right foot, his most painful foot. The T-ligament is what separates the deep digital flexor tendon from the navicular bursa, so the arthroscopic surgery's goal was to go into the ddf tendon sheath, penetrate and make a permanent "hole" through (fenestrate) the T-ligament and into the nav bursa. Since many horses experience pain associated with too much inflammatory fluid/pressure in the nav bursa, the idea is that with a "permanent line of communication" between the two, what fluid, good or bad, that needs to be in an area can be. There can never be too much pressure in the nav bursa, and when you want to do nav bursa injections, you simply have to inject the tendon sheath. We got a good result on that first foot. A year later, we went into the left, however, we didn't get any long term improvement. So after doing an ultrasound recently to get an idea if we had expected fluid levels (low) in the bursa, Tom figures that for whatever reason, the left closed up, as there was more fluid there than in the right. So he agreed to do it again - which we did this past Friday. Surgery went fine, but we won't know until the boy is all recovered and we go back and reintroduce some good juice.

It's entirely experimental, and Apache is only the 3rd horse he's done. He is hoping to get enough pain relief to someday offer it as a viable option to "less severe" horses. Apache is not a candidate for a neurectomy due to all his soft tissue injuries, so this is all I've got. I just hope my sweet boy gets some relief from this one. If not, he's probably only got a couple of years inside a tolerable pain limit. I'm so happy to have the chance to do "something" for him.

Ann, I'd love to know what's up with your horse? Have you tried nav bursa injections yet? Tom is a huge proponent of them. They are not inexpensive, but a good response could make a huge difference for certain horses, especially for a horse with milder pain.
Member:
leslie1

Posted on Friday, Aug 21, 2009 - 4:12 pm:

Thanks for posting this..please keep me posted on how he does. I have a mild nav mare.
Member:
dres

Posted on Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 - 5:19 am:

You know Brandi its been years since I have done much with my horse.. as a 4 year old, now 10, I had him worked up at UCD and also Tom.. . We found on the right front a fracture of the extensor processor , Tom said surgery was not an option so did UCD.. Later that year his left front was off , we found a avulsion fracture of the navicular bone.. I had injections done, that faired pretty well but of course does not last forever..
I opted not to show him anymore and he has become my back yard pet and school master for the grand kids.. I have had him x rayed twice since to make sure we are on track with his shoeing.... he is serviceably sound for the girls.. on a gram of bute a day when being ridden..
I am following your post for in the future when he will be more crippled and I want him comfortable like your Apache.. !!

My question re coffin injections.. if a horse moves well after then , then we as the rider might expect more from them? Would this then make them break down faster and become more crippled quicker.. !
So are we robbing them of a longer term sound time?
* the horse I am talking about is the one in my profile.. sad isn't it.. ?

On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
Member:
frances

Posted on Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 - 3:09 am:

It's very sad, Ann. He looks wonderful in your profile. Did you ever find out what caused the fractures?
Member:
dres

Posted on Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 - 5:51 am:

LL, no we never found out why or how.. at UCD the vets told me that they have seen some colts born with a extensor fracture..? My boy was never lame till he was about 4 years old and he tripped out of my horse trailer and knocked his extensor... he was DEAD lame from that.. one week later I took him in for x rays... they said the fracture was a old fracture and he must have 'stung' it when he hit it.. .. all tho that hoof is the a buttress shape hoof it is not the one that bothers him the most... all tho , I am sure if we blocked out the left he would become noticeable on the right.. The avulsion again no clue.. I do know that correct shoeing is key for every horse not just the lame ones.. and I wonder if just maybe.. before I found my farrier today.. naw.. don't even go there Ann.. .it is what it is..
Yesterday I had a young jump rider on him .. she told her mom , ''I can learn so much from him'' she will be out to ride and learn twice a week... and he LOVES THIS JOB..

On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
Member:
brandi

Posted on Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 - 6:15 pm:

Ann, I know what you mean about working them more, but I firmly believe that sensible exercise makes so much of the whole body healthy that we should strive to get them comfortable enough to be able to stay fit. I can't do that with my Apache, though he looks fit, he's not at all, and that is bad for all the rest of his body. If we could make them comfortable and stay really smart about it then I would do it, no question. I have been through enough to have that discipline, but not everyone would. I wish I could have that as my goal (getting him comfortable enough to ride lightly) what a dream that would be! He was such a perfect ride for me, he was so light and sensitive - I LOVED RIDING THAT HORSE!
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