Kissing Spine - Competitive "life" post Op?

[hati]

I have read lots and lots of threads about the success of kissing spine operations but I was wondering if anyone has experience of the operation and whether the horse can go back to being competitive again and if so at what level?

My horse has been diagnosed with KS and has been treated with the injections (so far successful) but I am considering the long-term for him and to enable him to be as comfortable and pain-free as possible. He currently competes at Novice / CCI* and loves his eventing - so I was wondering if anyone has had a horse that has been operated on for KS and then gone back eventing?

many thanks in advance.

 

[stencilface]

My friends horse was competing novice aged 7 and then had the KS OP. Aged 12 last season he competed advanced and two CCI ** so they can come back to full competitive work

 

[hati]

My friends horse was competing novice aged 7 and then had the KS OP. Aged 12 last season he competed advanced and two CCI ** so they can come back to full competitive work

thanks Stencilface - that is really re-assuring to know that they can go back to being competitive as my horse loves going xc and going to "pony parties"

 

[TarrSteps]

Certainly horses do come back to their previous work level. I really do think it's hard to generalise though as there are so many variables, including what op is done. I know you're looking for success stories, OP, but it would be interesting to know if anyone is tracking the numbers as a whole.

 

[hati]

Certainly horses do come back to their previous work level. I really do think it's hard to generalise though as there are so many variables, including what op is done. I know you're looking for success stories, OP, but it would be interesting to know if anyone is tracking the numbers as a whole.

Totally agree that is very much on a case by case basis and that you can't generalise - esp for "success" stories. It would be good to know if stats were being tracked for all operations (and how severe the KS is) and the success rate. What is interesting is that here in Ireland they don't carry out that many operations compared to the UK. Will be having long discussions with my vet about the pros and cons of the operation.

Even if he doesn't come back to the level that he was competing at - if he is pain free that is all that I would wish for (and have a nice quality of life). He can live out the days at home as a field ornament and keep the foals company.

 

[Kelpie]

I don't know the answer in terms of long term success rates but vets seem quite divided between whether nowadays they promote the ligament snip operation vs removing some of the dorsal process ("tradition al opp"). Most of the studies I can find (and I've been looking at this as I've recently taken on a KS horse) aren't that great in terms of having good quality data longer term.

Interestingly, though, there appears to be a whole other school of thought out there that you can go a long way with physio/ corrective riding (with help of the injections if needed), rather than go through an opp. I guess if there is already bone fusion, then that's different, but if the processes are close but not fused then it would make sense that physio/ corrective riding could get you a long way. Also there seems to be quite a school of thought that KS is often secondary to another issue. Have a little google of "science of motion" and KS.... very interesting once you get over the Franglais......

 

[TarrSteps]

It's also very uncommon to operate in North America.

Also, the procedures are constantly being refined so data from 5 years ago would not necessarily be pertinent now. Added to that, diagnosis and treatment of any kind is still relatively new.

 

[Fides]

My friend has a horse just starting again after the OP and also a livery who is now out ODEing after having a PTS diagnosis by one vet. Can be very successful.

 

[Fides]

Interestingly, though, there appears to be a whole other school of thought out there that you can go a long way with physio/ corrective riding (with help of the injections if needed), rather than go through an opp..

My friend did this with great success for a while. Unfortunately if the horse is out of work for any reason and loses musculature, the condition will return and it can be a long process to build up the correct muscles to get the horse pain free again.

 

[Kelpie]

My friend did this with great success for a while. Unfortunately if the horse is out of work for any reason and loses musculature, the condition will return and it can be a long process to build up the correct muscles to get the horse pain free again.

yes, unfortunately this does very much seem to be a down side....... though as I understand it, that is where the injections can be of great help, to give you the pain relief to enable the work to then be done.

Interesting that in North America it is also uncommon to operate. I wonder if some vets over here are a bit trigger happy with the operation then?

 

[Fides]

Interesting that in North America it is also uncommon to operate. I wonder if some vets over here are a bit trigger happy with the operation then?

I've given up trying to work out why they do things in the US in my field of work they are still using methodology that we abandoned 20 years ago...

 

[TarrSteps]

I've given up trying to work out why they do things in the US in my field of work they are still using methodology that we abandoned 20 years ago...

There are limitations that exist there that don't exist here, mostly to do with money and distance, and vice versa, mostly to do with the availability of various medications. It's easier to operate here and, because of insurance, it's a possible affordable option. In North America horses are more likely to be treated at home and most people have to least consider the financial side.

There are differences in culture, as well. I find my personal view of horse health is often much more in line with vets from NA, Australia, NZ and even Ireland.

The thing is, in most veterinary situations, it's rarely as cut and dried as their being one answer or even a 'best' answer. Some of the considerations are practical but others depend on the people involved, their own experience, how they've been trained etc. There are risks and rewards involved in any course of treatment so vets may even justifiably offer different treatment paths for similar situations, or even the same situation. Then it often comes down to the owner's individual capacity for risk.

 

[Hets83]

My horse had 11 processes treated with ligament snip operation last September after vet said he shouldn't be moving. He has been a revelation since and is back doing BE, hunting and dressage with no problems at all. I am very careful to do lots of lunging still (3 times a week) and physio treatments to keep back soft. My vet saw no reason why I should not crack on with him as his ks was only problem - no suspensory or sacroiliac pain which can often be the case. Last year he had 3, 4, 5 and 7 poles down when showjumping eventing and in two events this season he has jumped clear.

I tried injections first but it made no difference at all and then got a contraption that was meant to try and strengthen stomach muscles to help the back, this made no difference either.

I would not hesitate to recommend the surgery, make sure sure you use a good vet as that is the key and then lots of rehab shortly after to get back moving.