Head and Tail Restraint System Post Surgery

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Lynne1410

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I'm looking for anyone whose horse may have suffered an injury from the use of the Head and Tail Rope System in anaesthetic recovery - My horse suffered a severe life-changing injury through the use of the system and there is very little information regarding its use. I would be interested to know if my boy's injuries could have been avoided.
 
Are you intending to sue a vet? I think people should know before they answer.

I'm really sorry you're in this situation, it's horrendous. But the reason restraint is used is because of how dangerous bringing a horse around from a GA is to the horse and the vets, as you probably know. There are members on the forum whose horses have broken legs in recovery.

I'm so sorry it went wrong, that must be heartbreaking. Welcome to the forum, I'm sure you wish it was for different reasons.
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Hi, This is really about avoidance in the future for others. There is very little literature regarding this and no guidance on how the restraint should be used and for what types of surgery or type of horse. I have found two other cases of horses who have suffered the same injury, (fracture and dislocated vertebrae with a spinal cord compression) one survived the other did not. To me, as a lay person, tying a horse's tail to a rope attached to the wall to steady it when getting up is asking for trouble, especially on a young TB, whose flight mode was activated the minute he opened his eyes. Clinical papers I have read show no real improvement in outcomes and I just don't think it's worth the risk. I would just like to warn people to ask their vet which system they will use when their horse is coming round so that the owner has all the information. I had no idea this system would be used and would have warned that my horse absolutely would not tolerate it.
 
I absolutely agree you should have been told. I had a warmblood who would never have tolerated it. After he had come round safely the vet said "he's feisty, isn't he? "

I am so sorry this happened to yours.
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My horse had a tail injury when he had an operation on his hock in Sept 2019. At first he could not use his tail at all, and it contributed to him going back into the hospital less than 72hrs after he came home due to a severely impacted caecum. Over time he regained the use of his tail, probably 90% ish? But his tail still sits a lot lower than it used to and he has a bump where his sacral vertebrae end due to muscle loss/neve damage and what I call a ski slope from that point to the start of his dock/tail.

I did not know at the time that they used a head and tail rope to help get them up. The vets said they checked the video and there were no reports of issues with his recovery, but he went in with a fully functioning tail and came home not able to move it, so that is the only thing that could have caused it. He had to have another GA in Nov 2020 (keratoma) and I asked them not to use the ropes this time, as well as give him extra fluids when he came round.
 
Wow that's so interesting, I'm so glad your horse recovered well. Mine I'm afraid has not and six months on he has no tail movement and difficulty passing stools due to the nerve damage and cord compression. Raffie also has the ski slope bump. His issues were noted by vets the next day and he had 21 day intensive care admission. Did your horse have fracture or dislocation on x-rays? Can I also ask how long it took for your horse to regain some movement in his tail? My new vet thinks this will not return for Raffie but I live in hope as he suffers dreadfully when the flies are about! I'm hoping to do some in-hand showing with him this year if possible as he can no longer be ridden.
 
Lynne1410 said:
Wow that's so interesting, I'm so glad your horse recovered well. Mine I'm afraid has not and six months on he has no tail movement and difficulty passing stools due to the nerve damage and cord compression. Raffie also has the ski slope bump. His issues were noted by vets the next day and he had 21 day intensive care admission. Did your horse have fracture or dislocation on x-rays? Can I also ask how long it took for your horse to regain some movement in his tail? My new vet thinks this will not return for Raffie but I live in hope as he suffers dreadfully when the flies are about! I'm hoping to do some in-hand showing with him this year if possible as he can no longer be ridden.
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Mine did not actually have any x-rays of the area, not sure why I did not insist at the time but we are where we are! It took a few months for him to regain some movement, he was not allowed hay for about 3 months to make sure his poo was loose and easy to pass, Spillers Super Senior Mash was used as a replacement. He also had nano-e to help with the (slow) nerve regeneration, and the vets did some acupuncture FOC.

So sorry your horse is having issues still.
 
That's exactly the treatment my boy had. He is back on hay now and all-day grass turnout, but I'm worried how he will cope with the spring grass so I'm probably going to restrict him a bit. We have to be so careful of what he has to eat as if we go to soft he colics! I like the sound of the acupuncture I may try that for him. You don't have to answer if you'd rather not, it's just I see you are also in West Sussex and I wondered if this happened to you horse at Sussex Equine which is where Raffie was?
 
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