Check Ligament Surgery - Help!

juliehannah58

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Does anyone on here have any experience of Check Ligament surgery??

I am in the position of having two choices - go for this surgery or retire my SJ'ing mare
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At 15 she's no spring chicken but at no age to retire, I don't want to risk her life for a surgery that may not work, as she could go on to breed BUT she's a star horse and if I could get her going again it's worth more than any foal to me - but not worth her life !!

D'oh.

Any advice appreciated, can't find much info on it and time is a'ticking
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Thanks
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Surgical wise it is very minor - the problem lies in it is very easy to cut the wrong thing. Surgeons at our hospital did not enjoy doing it, as it was not regular enough to where they felt comfortable so it was common place to call in the other surgeon to double check before anything was cut. I would ask how often they do these procedures.
 
He said they don't do it very often, as 99% of the time they recommend rest or the injury isn't suitable for surgery. My mare has already had 8 months rest and the problem has been ongoing for over a year now so I am running out of options
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She is having an MRI today to get a better picture of what the surgery would entail before I make my decision. Thanks GTS
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I know - I'm gutted for her
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She's so special to me so she'll always have a home whatever, but she has such low mileage and just thrives on work that I'm so tempted to try the surgery, but if anything happened to her I'd be beside myself
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[ QUOTE ]
She is having an MRI today to get a better picture of what the surgery would entail before I make my decision. Thanks GTS
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Hope she is insured, as we never did MRI's!! If I was in your shoes I would happily do the surgery, but would say if things look too much alike in there, and you can not be 100% sure what you are cutting, feel free to sew her back up - it gives them an out if they are not comfortable, but really these guys are good and all should be fine.
 
Good - I am pleased to hear it. I would go ahead with the surgery, I am sure she will be fine. I have seen 100s of surgical procedures, these days they are very common, and generally go very well. Get it done, and then take her a bag of apples or carrots and give her lots of fuss.
 
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