KS - do we operate?

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zoregano

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I have to decide whether to operate and have two SPs removed. Investigations ongoing and we need to eliminate the possibility of hindleg lameness before making a decision. However, my gut feel from how he felt ridden is that it is a very specific area in the back which causes the problem and we are unlikely to find hindleg lameness. One of the things I need to consider is how much stress the operation and post op period will cause my horse and whether I want to put him though it. He is not going to cope well with box rest and I am not going to be able to walk him in hand on my own after a period of box rest. I know I will need to discuss this with the vet and surgeon but I wondered if I could get some background info before I did so. Has anyone had SPs removed and NOT had box rest but used restricted turnout in a small area? Has anyone had exerience of keyhole surgery for this op? Thank you for your input.
 
Do the processes need to be removed? If you have the ligament cutting operation instead, box rest is not required, they can have small pen rest and be walked out in hand almost ummediately.

It's not an operation I'm a big fan of, as I think the jury is still out on whether it destabilises the spine, but with only two to be done it might be a better option for your horse?

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There is a nasty bone cyst on one of them and it's got to go. I have hardly ridden the horse so please don't think I was riding him as the bone cyst was developing (I was shocked when I saw it). I am also not a big fan of the ligament snip - I have spent time getting him to stretch his back and agree that slow stretching of the ligaments is preferable to a surgeon cutting them. So it looks like box rest?
 
In my experience, you really need the box rest and in hand walking for a successful outcome for full KS surgery and if you can’t find a way to achieve that (sedation/ two people to walk), I personally wouldn’t go there.

You might get away with ligament snip in a small paddock as YCBM says, but if there’s a bone cyst, that approach obviously won’t address that.

Last time
I checked, there was not a huge amount of evidence concerning the long term prognosis of the ligament snip, but that may have advanced now (about 5 yrs on).
 
Again, it would be interesting to see research on ligament snip horses to see what happened some years down the line. I can't help thinking here must be a significant amount of compensation going on in a ligament snipped horse which surely must manifest itself later.
 
Just out of interest, what are peoples' experience of steroids for KS and horses who have had a bout of laminitis? Caused by not being able to work and caught early. Was the option ruled out without question or is there a way of assessing the horse's tolerance to steroids at a low level first?
 
Steroids on mine were a miracle cure, but sadly not for long. It was probably the anaesthetic that goes in with it rather than the steroids.

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One of mine had steroids as part of the diagnostic process- she did pretty much return to ‘normal’ in that time, but they were shortlived. She didn’t have any history of laminitis though. My understanding is that the risk is increased, but not a certainty that the steroids would provoke a flare-up.

Presumably, you’d need to limit all other potentials like restricting/ taking totally off grass?
 
Mine wasn't restricted from grazing for the steroids, but he was a very TB type horse and slim and fit. He had five joints medicated.


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My mare had KS op on 3 processes. I'd never put another horse through it without x-raying every inch of its body to check for other issues first or a thorough lameness examination.

The KS op was successful but then it was clear she had a ton of secondary issues which showed after I rehabbed her from the op as she started to use herself correctly. Chronic hock arthritis (she was 8!), ulcers and she was still hopping lame so vet mentioned it could be a huge load of other issues as well (stifles, suspensory, navicular) so had her PTS a year after the op because she was so unhappy it wasn't fair to put her through anymore and she really was uncomfortable even as a field pet.

To add, my gelding had a op in February hes a flighty chap and coped amazingly. Same as the mare who had KS, very nervy yet box rest was perfect. Your be surprised how well they adjust to box rest.
 
Just wanted to say thank you to you guys for your very helpful input. I think I am clear in my mind now. Its been a long 6 years and my horse was not right when I got him - completely seized up and I guessed it was KS (but wasn't sure and he did pass a 5 stage vetting) - But I have no idea why I bought him! He had a great first few years - I stopped riding him pretty quickly and spent a long time trying to rehab him from the ground whilst he was a companion to my old boy. I did think that getting him to work correctly was the key to it but I have changed my thinking on that - confirmation plays a big part. I didn't want to get the vets involved as long as he was happy. My aim was to give him a nice life but the laminitis last year changed that. I think I achieved my aim and should stay true to that.
 
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