anyone had suspensory ligament op/treatment at Animal Health Trust?

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redski

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Just had the dreaded diagnosis that my mare has damaged the proximal sus lig in the left hind. Just wondered if anyone had had their horse operated on at the AHT in Newmarket and what the result was - good or bad.

I was told the success rate is 70% for the operation. I assume there is only the one type of op (which involves denerving) and that all surgery involves the same technique and success rate.

Any info about the condition, operation, complications, AHT's success rate gratefully received.

(I've only had this mare 6 months during which time I have nurtured her along, walked out for 6 weeks initially, been mega careful in every way. I went away for 4 days on a riding course and came back to an injured horse - she must have done it in the field. Uugghhh!!)
 
make sure that you get both legs done and willesley only charge $1500 for the op if you are paying for it yourself.

I think Sue Dyson is based at AHT and she is the lady that invented the operation and is very good.
 
My pony had a neurectomy on 2nd Nov a Oakham for injured suspensory in right hind. I was told the sucess rate was 60%.
The op went well, he was in for 6 days; staples out on day 10 and started walking in hand after 2 weeks, unfortunately he is a looney so after 4 weeks we ended up turning him out with his friends; this has make his recovery slower, but he is happy and from the way he gallops around you wouldn's know he is injured! He was re-scanned on 2nd Jan, and is healing slowly, but well. We are hoping for a full recovery in a few months time.
BTW his injury occured in May last year, and was undiagnosed until October!
 
Whilst I cannot comment on your treatment, Cairo has been a regular visitor to the AHT for cancer treatment since 1992.

The horses are beautifully kept. As Cairo is so good and now getting old, he is put out to graze and gets fed on a fibre diet as close to the Simple Systems one as they can.

The place is immaculate and the girls really do love horses and Cairo is very spoilt and acts like a King when he comes home.

His treatment is excellent and they do everything they can. This year as he is old he only had one GA to remove the cancer growth and they spent three times as long doing the radiotherapy so he could have it done under local.

As you can tell, I am very pleased with the AHT.
 
My mare was operated on for PSD at AHT by Sue Dyson in early 2004. It was a success in that she returned to competing, including several wins at RC ODE's and upto medium dressage - we had 3 great years. Sadly though the lameness reoccurred last autumn and blocks have proven that the nerve has regenerated. Unfortunately she has a lot of scar tissue around the original operation site so a 2nd neurectomy on the same site isn't an option. I was offered a tibial neurectomy but as that removes greater sensation in the leg I didn't consider that an option. We tried shock wave treatment without success (injury is probably too chronic to be effective) She is unlevel rather lame and is quite happy hacking out so is now enjoying a slower pace of life. Even though not a permanent fix I would definitely recommend going for the op.
 
my horse mended and was back in full work 6mths after the injury was diagnosed just with shockwave and rest - damn sight less risky and cheaper than the neurectomy. i know many other horses with similar results. i would always go down this route first with an acute injury and only use surgery if it fails or is a more chronic injury as i've known a few where the nerve has regenerated or the op just hasn't worked and then shockwave isn't an option anyway. would only ever put my horse through a GA as last resort - risk of death too high for my liking.
 
One of the horses at the stables where i used to work had this op about 3 years ago. She was brought back into work and is now back in the school doing dressage lessons. She does have good days and bad days but I think has generally benefited from the treatment. She is certainly sound.
 
Very many thanks for the replies. I'm going ahead with the operation and am now wondering how long to leave her at AHT after the op. Obviously, I'll take veterinary advice but it sounds like leaving her there as long as is affordable is sensible!
 
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