I am sadden about the set backs but he is strong and hopefully will pull through… JINGLES for Barbaro from NY!
thanks for the updates…big jingles…
I was at New Bolton yesterday morning. The atmosphere there was definately different than usual. You could tell the staff had/has been affected by this, but as Dr. Davidson told me - they have had worse cases than this pull through. When I left around lunch time the local news media was just setting up. My thoughts and prayers are with all associated with this awesome horse.
Update 200: Spoke to Michael Matz this morning (Tuesday) as I was going onto the track, he was ponying Peter off the track. I asked Michael “how’s your horse doing?”… he said Dr. Richardson had just called and reports Barbaro is holding his own.
Also spoke to Kathy Anderson who visited Bobby last night at 6pm (Monday). She was relieved to see him in the condition he was in. He had just had a bath, mane combed, and was eating.
Updated Tuesday 7:10am
Update 199: Trying to identify news stories that have information we have not already seen, so I apologise if I miss a good story! The Daily Racing Form: Barbaro ‘comfortable’ after more surgery (thanks Maria) includes some insights from Dr. C. Wayne McIlwraith, a of Colorado State University’s Equine Orthopedic Research Center, excerpt:
“It’s definitely a setback,” said Dr. C. Wayne McIlwraith, a of Colorado State University’s Equine Orthopedic Research Center. “When you get an infection, it’s always a challenge. But the other thing to state is that, if you have stability, you can heal bone in the presence of infection. So there is still some reason for optimism.”
McIlwraith pointed out that Barbaro’s radiographs have reportedly shown knitting in the fractured areas.
“That means he already has some stability from bony union,” he said. “That’s one of the things that’s positive.”
The new locking compression plate that Richardson implanted Saturday may also aid with stability and allow bone healing, McIlwraith said.
“Ultimately, when you get healing, you can take out the implants and clean out the infection,” he said. “If the infection persists and causes instability in the plate or the screws, that’s difficult.”
I added some new videos to the fan media page, thanks Jessica Franks. You might also want to light a candle for Barbaro at gratefulness.org (thanks Melissa).
U
Horse Racing
Barbaro setback cause for concern
BY DAN GELSTON
KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. – Barbaro’s perilous road to recovery has suffered its biggest setback to date.
The Kentucky Derby winner faces major problems for the first time since having surgery to repair the right hind leg he shattered in the Preakness on May 20.
Barbaro had a new cast applied for a sixth time Monday, the fourth change in a week. The latest development followed three hours of surgery late Saturday in which doctors replaced the titanium plate and many screws in the leg and also treated an infection.
‘‘I think we’re in for tough times right now. I think we’re going to have some tough days ahead,’’ Dr. Dean Richardson said at the New Bolton Center at the University of Pennsylvania. ‘‘I’m being realistic about it. When a horse has a setback like this, it’s a problem.’’
Richardson, the chief surgeon at the facility, looked haggard during the briefing and said it took more than 15 hours from the start of surgery Saturday until Barbaro fully recovered from the anesthesia.
‘‘We went six weeks with nothing going wrong, essentially, and one week where we’ve had things we’ve been dealing with,’’ he said. ‘‘There’s no question this is a setback, and we’re trying to address the problems.’’
He said Barbaro was back in his stall in the intensive-care unit, where he has been since the catastrophic injury occurred shortly after the start of the Preakness.
‘‘Right now, he’s happier,’’ Richardson said. ‘‘He’s got a normal heart rate and a normal temperature. He’s eating like crazy. He’s very hungry. He’s making lots of manure. He looks actually pretty happy today. Now we have to see how he responds to what’s going on.’’
Last Monday, Barbaro had the cast on his injured leg replaced and three new screws inserted. On Wednesday, another new cast was applied after he showed discomfort. A small abscess on the sole of his left hind hoof also developed.
Richardson said Barbaro’s main fracture was healing well, but the pastern joint above the hoof, which was shattered into more than 20 pieces, continues to be a concern. The joint, which doctors are trying to fuse, was stabilized with ‘‘new implants and a fresh bone graft,’’ Richardson said.
‘‘Maybe we’ve been lucky that we haven’t had any big problems,’’ owner Roy Jackson said. ‘‘Then a little problem like this crops up. The whole recovery is a difficult thing.’’
The long cast applied Saturday was replaced by a shorter cast Monday and ‘‘was done with Barbaro in a sling and under mild sedation,’’ Richardson said.
‘‘The long cast was used as extra support during the anesthetic recovery phase,’’ Richardson said. ‘‘It is much easier for him to move around his stall and get up and down with a short cast. We also found and treated an abscess in his left hind foot that was bothering him.’’
Richardson said he never expected Barbaro to be in this situation because of what had been a smooth recovery process. But a fever, a swollen pastern joint and the infection derailed him.
There’s reason for optimism, though, especially if Barbaro responds well to his latest surgery.
‘‘If he stays comfortable, I think we’re OK,’’ Richardson said. ‘‘If we can’t get him comfortable, it’s going to be a difficult problem.’’ AP
Thoroughbred Times.com
Barbaro gets another cast change
Dean Richardson, D.V.M., chief of surgery at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, replaced the cast on Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Barbaro’s injured right hind leg for the fourth time in eight days on Monday morning.
Barbaro’s miraculous recovery from the shattered leg he suffered in the Preakness Stakes (G1) on May 20 took a downturn around July 1 when the three-year-old Dynaformer colt developed a slight fever and appeared uncomfortable in his hind legs.
Since then, the cast has been changed on July 3, 5, 9, and 10, and doctors fitted Barbaro with a new protective shoe after they found a small infection on his left hind foot near the frog.
Doctors are also fighting an infection in Barbaro’s surgically repaired leg. Richardson replaced a plate and many screws on July 8 in addition to putting the leg in a long cast.
“The long leg cast was replaced with a short leg cast this morning. This was done with Barbaro in a sling and only under mild sedation,” Richardson said Monday. “The long cast was used as extra support during the anesthetic recovery phase. It is much easier for him to move around his stall and get up and down with a short cast. We also found and treated an abscess in his left hind foot that was bothering him.”
Despite the ominous updates, there was some good news as the fracture continues to heal. A New Bolton statement released Monday states that Barbaro was comfortable on Sunday night and eating well on Monday.
“We’re continuing his pain medication, antibiotics, and other supportive care,” Richardson said. “He appears more comfortable [Monday] and has had a normal temperature, heart rate, and overall attitude.”
Roy Jackson, who bred and owns Barbaro with his wife, Gretchen, said New Bolton officials told him Monday that Barbaro was doing better.
“They haven’t told us one way or the other how serious this is, but Dean Richardson has been pretty frank all along that we are liable to have things pop up along the road,” Roy Jackson said. “They’re being very proactive about dealing with the situations. It’s one day at a time.”
Barbaro continues to be monitored closely in the Intensive Care Unit of the George D. Widener Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center.—Pete Denk
Thanks for keeping the updates comming! First thing i check in the morning! Jingles buddy…
Continuing jingles for the boy!!!
Thanks for the updates.
One tends to forget…so Jingle, Jingle.
Update 201: The Baltimore Sun (which continues to do great Barbaro coverage) has an interesting article: Barbaro faces ‘tough times’ (thanks Anne) that includes quotes from Peter Brette and a vet which I include below:
At the equine center in Leesburg, White said the main concern in such cases is whether the bone is actually healing.
“Any evidence of healing is a good sign,” he said. “It’s a race between that bone healing, having the plate and screws hold up and keeping infection at bay.”
Richardson said Sunday that Barbaro’s main fracture was healing well, but the pastern joint above the hoof - which was shattered into more than 20 pieces - continues to be a concern. The joint, which doctors are attempting to fuse, was stabilized with “new implants and a fresh bone graft.”
Often, such a traumatic break leaves portions of the bone and tissue without sufficient blood supply to grow back together, White said. Inadequate blood supply also hampers the immune system’s ability to find and destroy any bacteria that entered the wound during surgery.
“Then you’ve gone ahead and taken a piece of metal and screws and put them into that environment,” he said. Bacteria will attach to the metal parts, grow and destroy surrounding tissue and bone. That can loosen screws and diminish the support needed by the bone as it heals.
Veterinarians watch animals for signs of postoperative infection. They check for fever and look for evidence of pain, such as limping or favoring the injured leg. They may even be able to feel unusual heat through the cast or spot drainage that signals infection in the wound, White said.
Such contamination is quite common, he added. “You use antibiotics locally during the process to kill as many [bacteria] as you can so there is no infection, but it’s not a perfect science.” If the tissue is healthy and the number of invading bacteria is low, the animal will fight off the infection and recover.
White, who has not participated in Barbaro’s care, declined to speculate on the colt’s chances for survival. “I’ve managed horses with this kind of [injury] that have survived, and I’ve had others that did not,” he said.
One of the big questions Barbaro’s doctors must be addressing now, he said, is whether, after weeks of antibiotic treatment, the bacteria in the animal’s wound have grown resistant.
A less tangible question is whether Barbaro has the heart to keep fighting.
“They have personalities,” White said of thoroughbreds. “Perhaps we’re not perfect at reading their minds, but we get a feel for when they are hurting and not willing to give what they need to survive.”
“There is something there that tells you when they want to quit,” he said. “And you have to make that tough decision.”
I have added a couple of sites to the fan media page.
As always, thank you VirginiaBred. Prayer and jingles for this wonderful horse.
Continuing to send many jingles Barbaro’s way!
pdate 203: As update 202 was being composed New Bolton came through with an update: Barbaro stable after sixth cast applied (thanks Faye):
Dr. Dean Richardson, Chief of Surgery, reports today that Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro is resting comfortably after receiving his sixth cast since his accident at the Preakness on May 20. “Barbaro is eating well and resting in his stall,” said Dr. Richardson, who also treated the colt for an abscess in his left hind foot. “He’s tolerating the shorter cast well,” said Dr. Richardson. “His vital signs remain stable and his attitude and appetite remain good.”
Update 202: No new update until after 6 pm unless New Bolton provides something. Just wanted to let everyone know. I called Peter Brette at 3, he was still at the barn (Fair Hill). Michael is running a horse today, once that has run he will get to NBC and let Peter know. Peter plans to call me later.
As I continue to read through all the recent Barbaro articles this one seemed pretty comprehensive re: the recent events: Barbaro has ‘very significant setback,’ surgeon says (thanks CJ): the following is an excerpt:
After Barbaro’s temperature spiked to 102 degrees Saturday and the Kentucky Derby winner showed signs of discomfort, Richardson performed surgery that evening. Monday was a better day for the horse, the surgeon said.
and
Monday, the horse had a sixth cast put on, his fourth cast replacement in the last week. Richardson put a shorter cast on, like the previous ones Barbaro had been wearing. The doctor had put on a longer cast, covering Barbaro’s entire leg, Saturday night. That cast was designed to protect him better as he woke up.
“He’s a tough horse . . . a big, strong horse that’s kind of aggressive, so we put him in a full-length cast,” Richardson said. "It’s a more protective cast, but it’s also much more cumbersome for a horse to wear. They panic a lot of times because they feel they can’t move their legs. He really didn’t like it very much.
“As a consequence, we spent most of the night trying to get him back standing comfortably. We literally worked on him for close to 15 hours (including the surgery) before he was back in his stall.”
Good luck Bobby, these are the toughest of days I am certain.
VB! It is awesome how you are keeping everyone update on Bobbie’s progress…I know everyone appreciates it very much…THANK YOU…This is also the first place I come if I want to know whats going on with the big guy…prayers and jingles from tracy in az///
I went with a friend tonight to drop off a colic at NBC and my daughter (who is 8) asked if she could visit Barbaro. The doctor explained that he was not feeling well today and has had a few tough days lately. I got the impression that things are tense with him. So more prayers, jingles and whatever it takes.
Update 205: Articles from the New York Times and Washington Post highlight the current problems Bobby is facing. New York Times Another Serious Turn in Barbaro’s Recovery (thanks Gloria) copied in full:
The recovery prospects of Barbaro, the Kentucky Derby winner, took another serious turn Tuesday when veterinarians discovered that the infection in his left hind leg may be more serious than first thought.
Dr. Dean Richardson, chief of surgery at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals, will detail the setback to Barbaro’s owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, on Wednesday, Gretchen Jackson said Tuesday night.
In a telephone interview late Tuesday, Jackson said that tests had identified a bacterial infection on Barbaro’s left hind – or healthy – foot that Richardson hoped he had cleaned out during a three-hour operation late Saturday.
During the operation, Richardson also changed the titanium plate and many of the 27 screws that had been inserted into Barbaro’s injured right hind leg on May 21, a day after the colt shattered it during the opening yards of the Preakness.
Jackson said she did not know the details of the infection or possible treatment, but said that she, her husband and Richardson remained optimistic that Barbaro could overcome the setback.
“Barbaro is alive and he is going to be alive and is acting like he wants to live,” Jackson said. “He is having trouble with his good leg. He can put weight on the leg and is a pain-free horse right now. We, and he, are not quitting. We’re a long way from that.”
Gail Luciani, a spokeswoman for the University of Pennsylvania Veterinarian School, said there might be a news conference about Barbaro’s condition later this week.
Late Tuesday afternoon, the school released a statement saying that Barbaro was eating well, resting comfortably and without fever after undergoing surgery and four cast changes in the last eight days.
Richardson, who on Monday warned that the colt faced tough days after those medical setbacks, said his team had also changed the bandage on the colt’s left hind foot, where they drained an abscess during surgery.
“Barbaro is eating well and resting in his stall,” Richardson said in the statement. “He’s tolerating the new cast well. We have changed his left hind foot bandage and that looks improved. His vital signs remain stable and his attitude and appetite remain excellent.”
On Monday, Richardson had changed Barbaro’s cast from a full-length one intended to protect the colt as he came out of anesthesia to a shorter one that allows Barbaro more mobility. The cast changes and surgery were prompted by fever and infections that made it difficult for Barbaro to support himself on his hind legs and raised the concern he might develop laminitis, a painful condition for horses that is caused by excessive weight bearing on one limb.
While horses with laminitis can be saved, and there was no evidence that Barbaro had developed the condition, the prospect of him having to battle the condition could be devastating, Richardson said Monday. The potentially excruciating pain could put stress on Barbaro and impede his healing process, leaving little choice but for his owners to ask the veterinarians to euthanize Barbaro.
Richardson said that option had not been discussed, and on Tuesday Gretchen Jackson reiterated that she and her husband had yet to consider that option.
Before Barbaro’s bad turn over the weekend, he seemed to be recovering well. X-rays last week showed that his main fracture was healing well. It was the pastern joint, which is above the hoof, that had veterinarians worried.
On Friday and Saturday, however, it was clear that Barbaro was uncomfortable and surgery was needed. The colt had been treated topically for an abscess found on his left foot, had a fever and struggled to put weight on his right foot.
Before Richardson performed the original five-hour operation, he calculated the chances of Barbaro’s survival at 50-50; and he increased them only slightly to 51-49 in the days after the procedure, when the colt’s convalescence was proceeding smoothly.
But Gretchen Jackson said that she and her husband were aware of the long odds they were facing, and they have steeled themselves for the sudden shifts in Barbaro’s status.
“We’ve know all along that what can be going wonderfully can turn disastrous in a moment,” she said. “We also believe that what can be going badly can be turned around, too.”
Washington Post: Infection Leaves Barbaro In Jeopardy (thanks Debbie):
An infection in Barbaro’s right rear pastern joint has reduced the chance the Kentucky Derby winner will survive, Dean Richardson, the chief of surgery at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, said Tuesday.
While the majority of bones fractured have healed in the seven weeks since Barbaro’s catastrophic breakdown at the start of the Preakness Stakes on May 20 at Pimlico Race Course, problems in the joint that connects the long and short pastern bones in the ankle region are putting the horse’s life in jeopardy.
“There’s so much concern. It’s significant,” Richardson said from the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals on the New Bolton campus. "It worries me. I have a hard time sleeping at night. So many people want to see this horse survive. He is stable today, and he’s got a great appetite, but he’s not as good as he was two weeks ago.
“Two weeks ago we were at 50-50 [for survival]. With this new problem, we’re less than that.”
On Saturday, Richardson performed extensive surgery on Barbaro, changing six screws and applying two new titanium plates in the pastern joint area. Richardson also attempted to clean out and treat an infection that had developed in the joint. Under anesthesia, and with a long cast placed on his leg, Barbaro did not recover enough to stand on his own until 15 hours after the operation began. On Monday, Richardson replaced the long cast with a shorter one to give the colt more mobility.
Barbaro maintains a hearty appetite and his vital signs were stable Tuesday. Richardson continued to treat an abscess on the left hoof, changing the bandage. Richardson stressed that the pastern infection, which is being treated with antibiotics, needs to be controlled before healing in the joint will resume.
The infection in the pastern joint developed despite extensive precautions. For example, the orthopedic surgery suite at the hospital is a completely sterile room with special filters to keep sterilized air flowing in. On the floor at the entrance of each room in the hospital, including the intensive care unit where Barbaro resides, are mats soaked in a powerful disinfectant to cleanse the soles of shoes.
“Parts of the recovery have gone better than average, but the infection now is a complication we’d rather not have,” Richardson said. “Do we always succeed in dealing with infection? No, we do not.”
There are no medical benchmarks or thresholds to consider when deciding whether to continue trying to save Barbaro, Richardson said.
“When it gets to the point where he’s inhumanely uncomfortable, there’s no strict, objective measure you have to quote,” he said. “It requires experience with consultation among many people. We’re not at the point where we’re going to pull the plug.”
It appears each article covers a different problem.
Update 204: Just spoke to Peter Brette. He reported that Barbaro remains the same. He is doing OK. That being said, I could just hear in his voice that he knew these were extremely tough days. Barbaro has just been through a lot in the last few days. Time to focus on how successful Nurevey came through: A Look Back: Saving Nureyev. Nureyev is an amazingly uplifting story. Keep all energy for Barbaro please, lets hope he writes a similar story!
Update 206: Saw Michael Matz this morning as I was going to the track. He told me Dr. Richardson had called and said Barbaro appeared a little brighter this morning (wednesday). I suspect we should take this news within the context of the two articles reproduced in Update 205. I’ll post more later as I learn more.
updated wednesday 7:20am
Praying for Bobby…
Hes such a fighter, and all the wonderful People at New Bolton, This must be so frustrating for Dr. Richardson.
We will all keep jingling for the great horse and all the people surrounding him!!! Thanks VB Your quite a person to do this!!! :yes:
This makes me so sad. I hope they can make him more comfortable.
It actually is breaking my heart, too.
This horse has so many people pulling for him. I cried this morning reading these updates.
