claresummers
New User
It has been a while since I updated with this injury. After having damage to DDFT hind diagnosed right at the attachment to pedal bone (diagnosis was hard as initial scan inconclusive in relation to severity of lameness, which indicated possibly pedal bone connected so xrays, fluids and further scans later we nerve blocked to diagnose), horse had tenoscopy for therapetuic and diagnostic purposes to DDFT. Op went very well, quite routine but post complication almost killed him! He ended up with an Atonic Caecum - looks like colic symptoms initially but routine treatment for coilc only added weight to the caecum & he became very ill not able to pass dung. It is RARE condition associated often & unexplicably with orhtpaedic surgery (in humans too). He did not eat properly or pass droppings for a week. It was trial and error in terms of food type, quantity and regularity. 24hr care/observation/therapy, loads of pain relief. Exhausting. Vet practically moved in. It was horrid. Luckily horse's fitness pre op gave him a fighting chance and he is slowly recovering. Leg seems fine! Great vet team. Luckily I am insured. It is like going into hospital for ankle ligament surgery & nearly dying fom something else you contract or develop. A 'gasman' friend of mine said the anaesthesia stopped/slowed his system and his guts literally went on strike. I will certainly view equine surgery with fear in the future but the vet stressed it is a rare complication for the unlucky few so be aware of such things but not to be put off. 6 months of rehab now for the leg.