Posted on 06/14/2006 12:17:09 AM PDT by beyond the sea
KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. -- Barbaro had the cast replaced on his shattered right hind leg Tuesday, another huge stride in the recovery of the Kentucky Derby winner who suffered a life-threatening injury at the Preakness.
Barbaro's cast was replaced under general anesthesia, and the 3-year-old bay colt had a very smooth pool recovery, the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine's New Bolton Center said in a statement.
Dean Richardson, the chief of surgery at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals, replaced the cast he first put on Barbaro's leg during surgery May 21.
"His leg looks excellent," Richardson said in the statement. "The incision has healed well and judging by the radiographs, the graft is opacifying [taking]. Callus is forming nicely, and all of the implants look unchanged."
Thanks for the update. I'm really pulling for this good boy.
Yes, the universe does need you.
;-)
Heh heh, just not to "run" it. Hard to take a day off, but it pays off in "good news." Go Barbaro Go!
Thanks for the ping!! I believe I read on the Tim Woolley racing site that he will be there for several more months. When something like this happened to Dancinginmydreams, it took her 13 months to be able to go outside by herself, I think.
Dr Larry Bramlage prominent equine surgeon and on-call veterinarian for the American Association of Equine Practitioners does not believe the injury occurred when Barbaro broke through the starting gate. "I watched him break through the first time and I watched him break the second time," Bramlage said. "He didn't break with the right hind injury. I would guess that it happened sometime out about a furlong. It took an additional 100-200 yards for Edgar to get him under control because these don't hurt immediately when they happen. There is so much adrenaline that the horse has no concept. Edgar probably knew before the horse knew that something was wrong. I don't think breaking through the gate the first time had anything to do with this."
"Normally, the way these happen is the one above happens first," Bramlage said. "Before Edgar could get him pulled up, the second fracture occurred.. This is a very serious injury. The critical scenario is how the horse responds when you splint him, take care of him and get him on his way to be treated."
Barbaro gets new cast on shattered leg
By Mike Jensenn Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Writer
Barbaro passed another hurdle yesterday when Dr. Dean Richardson, chief of surgery at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, replaced the cast that had been on the Kentucky Derby winner's right hind leg since surgery on May 21.
"His leg looks excellent," said Richardson, who performed the surgery the day after Barbaro shattered bones around his ankle in the opening furlong of the May 20 Preakness Stakes. "The incision has healed well and, judging by the radiographs, the graft is opacifying [or taking]."
"Callus is forming nicely, and all of the implants" - the plate and 27 screws - "look unchanged."
Richardson decided to change the cast yesterday, he said, because Barbaro's temperature had risen "half a degree" and the horse was showing signs that the cast was causing itchiness. It turned out Barbaro had two very small rubs on his heel, which wasn't surprising, Richardson said, because he has been so active in his stall. The rubs aren't "of any consequence," the surgeon said.
Barbaro's overall prognosis remains the same. There is optimism at New Bolton, but the crucial indicator is whether the horse can walk pain-free when the cast comes off for good, probably several months down the road.
The cast was replaced under general anesthesia, and Barbaro had a perfect pool recovery, Richardson reported. He first tried to change it with Barbaro standing in a sling, sedated.
"He was having none of that," Richardson said. "He just doesn't like being held in the sling."
Great news ping!
I wonder if Barbaro knows about his FReeperFanClub.
But it all doesn't really matter. The only thing that really matters is that he heals.
Take care.
"Many thanks for the update. Barbaro remains on my St. Francis prayer list."
Oh sure. Write that before I had a chance to say the same thing. So competitive....always so competitive. Humph!
ANYWAY, prayers to St. Francis for dear Barbero's healing. May he live a long and happy life.
Yay thanks for the ping RR. I'm so happy to see a good news story. :)
I put another story on the big Barbaro thread just now:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1640010/posts?page=246#246
Go Barbaro Go!
Bwat!
You have WitteBiww on your St. Francis prayer list? Cuz he's currently not winning any races.
"Bwat!"
Heh, heh, heh. Everything I know I learned from you. Everyone knows as much. Perhaps you ought consider THAT before hurling putrified polemics in my general direction.
My prayer list is spectacular. Can't spell Barbaro but aside from that I'm really quite remarkable. Thanks ever so. The Management
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