BARBARO developes serious complications

[DerbyDude]

http://msn.foxsports.com/horseracing/story/5771302

Barbaro has surgery for complications in leg

KENNETT SQUARE, Pennsylvania (AP) - Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro has developed "potentially serious" complications to his injured right hind leg, and underwent surgery to treat a new infection.

The infection developed in the leg where a titanium plate and 27 screws were inserted after the 3-year-old colt shattered three bones at the start of the Preakness on May 20.
The hardware was replaced and the infection treated Saturday night after Barbaro showed discomfort and had a "consistently" high fever.

Surgery was performed by Dr. Dean Richardson at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, where Barbaro has been recovering in the intensive care unit.

In a statement released by the hospital Sunday, Richardson emphasized that the complications are "potentially serious."

"Barbaro had developed some discomfort and a consistently elevated temperature so we believed it was in his best interest to remove the hardware and thoroughly clean the site of the infection," Richardson said. "We also applied a longer cast on that leg for additional support."

It is the third procedure in less than a week for Barbaro. He had the cast on his injured leg replaced and some new screws inserted Monday, and on Wednesday another new cast was applied. Also, Barbaro is being treated for a small abscess on the sole of his left hind hoof, according to the hospital.

Richardson said Barbaro's main fracture is healing well, but the pastern joint - a joint above the hoof - continues to be a concern. The joint, which doctors are attempting to fuse, was stabilized with "new implants and a fresh bone graft."

Barbaro took longer to recover from the anesthesia from this latest procedure, but Richardson added the colt was back in his stall and receiving pain medication, antibiotics and "other supportive care."

Barbaro's owners and trainer continue to visit twice daily, the statement said.

[billyboy2674]

not looking good is it?

[wilf]

If the big guy is going to pull through then he is in the right hands. To come this far is incredible given the shattered leg. All we can do is hope .

[kezeli]

We all expected some complications, later is better than sooner, at least he has some healing going on. It could have jacked the bone around so much as to no longer have viable bone growth at all. Thats why I work on "critical defects" and new substitutes for bone grafts in other substances to get more and better growth, such as cartilege scaffolding and synthetics that may or may not work. It's always a crap shoot with such devistateing fractures. At least he is still behaveing himself.

[Terlingua]

What I don't understand is how an infection develops at this stage of the game, although I do see the logic of later being better than sooner if it's going to happen at all. Does infection develop because that area is more or less "open" under the cast? Or....?

[Barbaro06]

My educated guess would be that the area of infection is covered up from any fresh air getting to it to assist in healing. Infections can occur at any time during recovery.

[skeenan]

This may sound like a completely stupid question, but since I've never heard why this wouldn't work, I'm curious...

... why can't they amputate and give him a prosthetic leg? Other than obvious personality differences between horses & dogs (prey vs. predator), they amputate dogs' legs all the time... and they get around as if they have 4 legs... do horses just not catch on to using only three legs? Or is there a medical reason that makes it not possible...??

I thought I saw a pony recently with a newly-designed prothesis... can't remember where... I think it might have been on the news...

[summerhorse]

They do but horses are tricky because of their great weight and hoof issues. The biggest problem though is getting their owners to agree to it. Most can't stand the thought of a mutilated horse but a dead one isn't so bad. Many horses particularly smaller ones do quite well on their prosthetic legs but they do take a lot of care and I guess a lot of people just aren't willing to put that commitment in.

[Kari]

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=34393

It's official. He's not doing well at all now.

[Cathy D]

Just in over the wire - - Barabaro has developed a severe case of laminitis in his left hind foot, and his chance to survive has been downgraded to "poor".

[nferro9925]

News story

He has developed an extremely bad case of laminitis -
Survivial is now at minimum

http://thoroughbredtimes.com/todaysnews ... 6&subsec=1

[Sysonby]

I think the big problem is in the opposite leg. I just watched the press conference and it was just about all about the laminitis which is in the left rear leg from taking too much weight from the broken leg.

It sounds pretty grim.

[WarHorse]

Edgar Prado:

"So far he's alive and so long as he's alive there's hope. He needs 1%. That 1% can make a difference. He's still fighting for it, so, he's not giving up easily."

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/todaysnews/newsview.asp?recno=65038&subsec=1

I for one will give him a chance.

No negative vibes here.

When he is ready to go, he will tell them. Until that time, I will cheer him towards the finish.

[louis finochio]

If the antibotics fail to kill the infection, its time to use plaintin, olive leaf, black walnut, and echinaeca.