Anyone Have Experience with Pastern Arthrodesis (joint fusion)?

[Topsy24]

Hi everyone!

I have a lovely OTTB that I purchased last year who mysteriously broke his pastern. While he is healed now, I am worried that the onset of arthritis and remodeling of the bone is going to affect his performance. I have been told his prognosis isn’t fantastic as any form of performance horse but have heard that pastern arthrodesis can successfully help horses return to a moderate level of work or even full soundness. Has anyone had experience with this procedure? It is a bit of a last resort (the horse is totally pasture sound and a lovely looking ornament but it would be nice for him to progress beyond such vocations). Thanks for any info!

[MoonWitch]

DD’s 15yo had one done by Dr. Dean Richardson at New Bolton. He actually had to take bond from the hip to rebuilt the joint and had more screws and plates than most, but he did great. Dean told us about his own personal horses that had been through the same and that he still rode cross country and foxhunted. Our boy was never completely “sound” and we weren’t expecting miracles. DD wanted more years with him to enjoy, pleasure ride and live a happy retirement. He made it about five years before soundness issues started to plague him. The joint itself started to drop dramatically and we worried that the suspensory was going to fail. So on a beautiful Nov morning, we set him free while he was out grazing in his pasture with his mates.

I think every situation is different but it’s worth looking into if you can afford the surgery and are willing to go through the rehab. I wish you the best and will be happy to answer any questions you have!

[IPEsq]

I recently vetted one with a cyst in the pastern joint on Xray. Sound now, but my vets said to pass on the horse because significant lameness and this procedure was likely in his future. Vet told me of one local horse that did not have a good outcome, although I read on it some out of curiosity and it seems like it is possible to have a success. In any event, it’s probably not something I would do proactively (i.e. not before the degeneration from your horse’s injury becomes a problem).

[ActNatural]

I leased a mare who had it done. Had a metal plate and screws. Won on the line at Devon so owner wanted to save her. Was done in the 90s. Might be better now? The surgery scar was ugly. She was sound enough for light jumping and dressage. But into her teens, it gave out and she had to be put down. I was no longer leasing her and only heard second hand but I think it was quite painful and awful.

[Topsy24]

Thank you so much for the input! I really appreciate the insight

[Fharoah]

I did it with a front limb and regret that decision. He still Gallups around the pasture In his rock & roll shoe though. However there have been a lot more success with hind limb arthroddsis.

[aascvt]

My friend’s AO jumper had a front pastern arthrodesis done by Dean Richardson 4-5 yrs ago. The recovery is very, very slow… but she was extremely patient with him and worked hard to rehab him properly. Results are beyond anything she (or I ) could have expected. He slowly started to jump again (low level stuff) and then over the last few years has continued to move back up. He showed in several 1.20-1.25 classes this year and was amazing. She is very selective about where and how much he shows (footing etc) and he’s not perfect every day but overall he is sound and VERY happy. Where are you and your horse located?

[eqsiu]

In the early 90’s a friend had it done in front because her horse had high ring bone. She got another year or two of performance (and individual bronze at young riders!) before he developed low ringbone. For most problems in the pastern joint, arthrodesis extends soundness for a while but other issues arise in compensation. It addresses the symptoms and not the cause of lameness in most situations.

[mwh]

I ended up retiring my YH due to hind leg pastern athreodosis. Theoretically, surgery (plate and 3 screws) was an option, but only briefly debated with my vet and surgeon. The amount of pain associated with surgery and rehabiliatation, combined with the level of risk, uncertainty and cost (up to @ AUD$25k including surgery and 6+ months of rehabilitation - ACE, ulcer treatment, bute, cast sores etc) meant it was not an option either my vet or I considered to be real or meaningful. Beautifullly bred furst romancier boy with stunning temperament and movement, but he could not have coped with the extensive stabling and limited movement for length of time required. Still breaks my heart. But outcomes from surgery are not guaranteed (especially more advanced dressage training). My vet also had to put to sleep another horse that underwent this surgery and around one month later suffered a post op infection that could not be successfully treated. we managed to get my boy to some level of paddock soundness with cortisone and rest and he’s now having a lovely life on 125 + acres and 16 other horses but at some stage, I expect the injury will worsen and my choices will be very very limited but he’s happy, paddock sound and pain free for time being.

For a different horse, I may have made another decision, but know that I made the right decision for him.and he’s got a very happy life for a few years.

Good luck whatever you decide.