Fracture to neck!

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follyfoot6

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Further to my 2 previous posts I took my horse to Leahurst 2 weeks ago and they found a fracture to his C6 vertebrae. A piece of bone has splintered off and is misaligned to the main vertebrae and may be resting on nerves. They cannot operate as it is too dangerous an area. He had a steroid injection two days ago. This is the only course of treatment available plus physio which he will start next week. Best case he will return to his career as a dressage horse, worst case can never be ridden again. I am wondering if there are any food supplements out there which may be appropriate and also if anybody else has experienced this. Apparently it is very very uncommon and everyone is saying how amazing it is that the consultant found it. Really fed up.
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Sorry to hear about your horse. The only help I can offer is if you want to PM me your email address I have some amazing anatomical diagrams of the vertebrae, nerves and muscles of the horse's neck from a rare book that might be of interest to you in understanding your horse's injury.

Do they think the bone fragment might reabsorb?

I think food supplementation may be wishful thinking to be honest, but it could be worth looking at MSM, it's beneficial for inflammation and healing and certainly couldn't do any harm. Other than that I'm sure prescription medicines will be the best route.
 
Oh, so very sorry for you. I only have experience of my old mare with arthritis in her neck - discovered by Rossdales a couple of years ago and they injected right into her spinal cord and then administered a (vastly expensive) steroid injection which lasted for precisely one month!! She has subsequently been on a daily sachet of Danilon and does daily neck stretching exercises. A good physio (which I had for her) can work wonders....so don't despair, it could all be OK.

I know this is not the same at all, but I just wanted to let you know that a good Chartered Equine Physio can really help!
 
Hi,

Tia may see this, if not, then it may be worthwhile getting in touch with her as one of her horses fractured his neck and her experiences may be helpful.
 
Thanks for your PM follyfoot - I have replied. I wish you well - this could be a very long hard struggle for both you and your horse.
 
No advice I'm afraid, but I did used to look after a horse who had fractured her neck - not sure of the details, but she did make a full recovery. It was a slow process and I think she had 2-3 years out of work, but came back to unaffiliated eventing.
 
I am so sorry to hear your news.
I had a similar catastrophe back in 1999. My beautiful horse, Bustino Bay, was diagnosed with a fracture in his neck which caused him to lose mobility in his hind legs. apparantly the fracture was pressing on the spinal cord.
I am sad to say he didn't make it but technology and veterinary medicine has come on in leaps and bounds in the last 10 years so I am really hoping all is well for your horse.
 
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