|
|
Discussion on Neurectomy Costs
|
| Author |
Message |
Member:
Vablonde
|
Posted on Tuesday, Sep 27, 2005 - 6:15 pm:
Hi everyone,
Back with my horse and his navicular cyst. After coffin joint injections, isoxuprine, corrective shoes it's starting to look like a neurectomy is the way to go.
I'm curious as to a ballpark cost for this surgery? Since he's only afflicted on his left front, I'm guessing we'll only have to snip the one leg and not the other.
He's a big fella at 18H, so is doing the surgery standing up an option, not only due to his size, but due to the costs associated with full course of knocking him out so he'll lay down.
Any advice is greatly appreciated! I haven't made up my mind yet, but I'm starting to lean this direction and would like to know what else I'll have to sell to make it happen. 
|
Member:
Shirl
|
Posted on Tuesday, Sep 27, 2005 - 9:56 pm:
Wendy,
It's been almost 10 years ago that I had this done to Sierra, and the cost at first rate hospital (Equine Hospital, Gilbert, AZ with Dr. Taylor)was only $500 at the time. She was anethized, and both fronts were done as in a partial neurectomy, meaning she could be ridden and could feel the toe part of her hoof. It was done in a sterile room, but not on a table. The room was padding so as to no injury when she 'came to'. I'm sure by now the technique has been improved, and I've also read that the standing up technique is done often with great results. The biggest challenge is the after-care, and prayers that they don't develope a neuroma (painful growth at the nerves end) as that's worse than the Navicular Disease. She required hand walking 2x a day for 15 minutes,(stall bound for 2 weeks) Bute, bandage change,
After the two weeks she could have a small pen to walk in but no riding for 30 days. You may know all of this, and I'm sure it's in Dr. O's information. Remember things have changed since 1996, and she was lucky, as the nerves didn't grow back, until just before she passed last year from a Sinker (Founder) which had nothing to do with the Navicular. She had laminitis and Cushings. Was healthy until the end except for her front feet. :o) If you want more information from my personal experience, feel free to e-mail me privately. Best of luck.
Shirl
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 28, 2005 - 8:26 am:
Hello All,
My biggest concern with neurectomy and a cyst is whether the cyst causes the flexor surface to be rough which abraids the ddf tendon and can lead to rupture when the horse uses it without pain. Several good flexor tangential views in combination with the regular shots will help identify this problem. For more on neurectomy see the article on navicular disease and be sure to follow the link to a farriers view of neurectomy.
I don't recommend the standing neurectomy procedure. The extra motion, the difficult surgery position, and inability to get good lighting all make the procedure much better when the horse is laid down. Concerning cost this so much depends on conditions and locale that any number is just a guess. Locally this would vary between 400 for done in your backyard to 1500 done in a surgery suite with gas anesthesia. Better is to check with your local veterinarian and surgeons.
DrO
|
Member:
Vablonde
|
Posted on Thursday, Sep 29, 2005 - 6:35 am:
Thanks Dr. O
This is a great forum because thanks to your post I can ask the right questions of my vet! He had mentioned the neurectomy back when he discovered the cyst, but I wanted to rule out every other possibility before going under the knife.
He'll be out tomorrow, so I'm going to have him do the flexor tangenital views and some new shots before we go any further with it.
I'll keep everyone posted.
Thanks again!
|
Member:
Vablonde
|
Posted on Friday, Dec 9, 2005 - 6:07 pm:
Neurectomy Update!
Well after many months of trial and "error" treatments, I am taking my horse to a vet teaching hospital for a full evaluation and provided there aren't any red flags, he will be getting the neurectomy on both fronts. I'm a little nervous, but I hope this is the right thing for him. He's such a special horse with a great big heart, it would be a shame not to at least try.
The surgeon also suggested some bone marrow injections as an option, but we'll see what the digital x-rays tell us.
Wish us luck!!
|
Member:
Shirl
|
Posted on Friday, Dec 9, 2005 - 11:32 pm:
Wendy,
Yes, I wish you the best of luck. With the new procedures they probably have I'm sure it will be fine. Please let us know how you are both doing and any help needed you'll find it here with all of us and Dr. O.
Shirley
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Sunday, Dec 11, 2005 - 9:54 am:
Good Luck Wendy and let us know the outcome.
DrO
|
Member:
Vablonde
|
Posted on Monday, Jan 2, 2006 - 7:59 pm:
Here's the update!
My horse had the partial neurectomy on both front legs done on December 12th after a thorough exam by the wonderful surgeons and residents at the state teaching hospital. I have to point out that this particular facility did SO much for my confidence in them with their thoroughness, thoughtfulness, expertise and realism. I was warned of the danger of flexor tendon rupture and development of neuromas. They also recommended a minimal of 6 weeks stall rest, maximum of 8 weeks.
The digital x-rays revealed that his navicular cyst had been enclosed in a ring of bone ( I guess like his body had walled it off almost)His one flexor tendon has some minor calcification and had his feet been properly cared for, he probably would have been a very sound horse for a very long time, but who can say for sure?
I had read as much as I could about the procedure itself and my local vet had recommended a different way of cutting the nerve, than what was ultimately performed at the hospital. They called it the guillotine method. The goal being that the less trauma, the less incident of neuroma formation.
One of the residents also pointed out that he had little finger like nerve projections growing off of one of this nerves which I thought was interesting.
Anyways, it's been roughly 3 weeks and he's been on stall rest and on of the doctors checked him again and said that light work would be ok. Mostly walk and a little trot since some cabin fever was setting in and the horse wanted out!! I am still leaving him on stall rest, no pasture turn out and just some short walks to keep him sane. 
His legs look wonderful, and short of some missing hair, you wouldn't know he had any surgery at all. There was no inflammation from the incisions, no swelling, no anything.
My wonderful friends have taken him in for these past few weeks as the college is 5 1/2 hours away and I didn't want to trailer him after the surgery, so hopefully he will be coming home next week to finish out his stall rest.
Everything so far is good! It's been a long road, but one well worth travelling for such a special horse. Here's a couple pictures of when I first got him and one that was taken yesterday during his first sound steps of trot in God knows how long.
He needs muscle and a bit more weight, but that will hopefully come.
Thanks to everyone and hope you enjoy the update!
 
|
Member:
Shirl
|
Posted on Monday, Jan 2, 2006 - 10:30 pm:
Wendy, Thanks for the update and the photos. So happy everything is going well for you and your boy! Keep up the good walks and keep us posted.
Shirley
|
Member:
Paul303
|
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 3, 2006 - 12:27 am:
Oh, wow, Wendy, thanks so much for the update and the beautiful pictures of the subject of this discussion. I'm very interested in the procedure you had done on your guy. If it isn't too much trouble, could you please let us know how this turns out?
|
Member:
Angel77
|
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 11, 2006 - 5:12 am:
Dear Wendy,
What a great looking boy you have! I cannot wait to see the after photos. Please keep us posted.
God Bless all the animals and all the people who care for them!
WTG
|
|
|
