Neurectomy for suspensories in performance horse...why is this okay?

[Libby2563]

@Montanas_Girl

Your guy’s hind pasterns do look long/weak. If the vet has mentioned “hyperflexion”, he’s probably hinting at ESPA (formerly known as DSLD). I don’t want to scare you, but, if that is the case, the prognosis is not good. I just lost a horse to this awful disease, and he did NOT have fetlocks that looked like your horse’s until very, very late in his life.

So I actually asked the vet directly about DSLD and he said he would not worry about that. That hasn’t entirely stopped me from worrying, but… (Also don’t know why a vet would hint at something like that rather than just coming out and saying it?) He thinks the hyperflexion is just a conformational feature, exacerbated by his size and the fact that he’s been barefoot (he will get shoes all around after the surgery).

I was thinking about asking for a biopsy anyway, to ease my mind if nothing else. The impression that I got from some reading was that it’s not conclusive but the UGA info does make it sound like they can give a pretty solid yes or no.

@halt

Do you have better confo pictures OP? Taken straight from the side, with no sun glare, or tail or boots obscuring the legs? I don’t see dropped pasterns from the pictures but he is straight behind from what I can make out of the shadows.

Before you do the surgery I would do a nuchal biopsy to 100% rule out ESPA/DSLD.

Funny, the vet specifically said that he does not think he is straight behind, though I can see why you’d think that from at least one of the photos. I guess they were a waste of time to post after all but this has been all I can think about for days and I thought anything would be better than nothing (I was at work when I posted the pics so I couldn’t get better ones).

[Busygalincal]

I’ve read the whole thread and was wondering if any or all of this information can also apply to a front leg suspensory? I have a horse who has had a great performance career and the vet recommended this surgery, but on the front leg. This horse has straighter, shorter pasterns and the vet thinks all the wear and tear is cumulative and this horse has had an ongoing suspensory issue that has always been managed, but now it’s getting worse. All the research I found only talks about hind limbs. The vet says they have done many Grand Prix jumpers, front legs, which surprised me.

[the_sandiest_shoes]

I’m facing this diagnosis with my 8 year old and this is the first semi hopeful thing I’ve seen all week. Will DM you once I get the ultrasound done (we came to this diagnosis after a frustrating six weeks of rabbit holes with the vet and US is another delay because of availability / not wanting to exam after blocking).

[Libby2563]

Wow, it’s weird/sad to see this thread again. I did do the neurectomy with zero improvement. Less than a year later I had to euth due to his discomfort. He was actually lame on both hind legs and his left front, which was diagnosed by MRI as a collateral ligament injury and didn’t respond to shockwave and stall rest with handwalking. Postmortem confirmed that he had DSLD, despite the surgeon’s assurances when I asked about it pre-op that he “wouldn’t worry about that.” Definitely lost a lot of faith in vets that year, and a really wonderful young horse too. More here: DSLD "diagnosis" in young, lame horse -- UPDATE post 130, he's gone

@the_sandiest_shoes, wishing you better luck with your horse! I know there are more threads out there with personal experiences about suspensory neurectomies. Do read the study @2tempe cited also.

[SummerRose]

Thank you for sharing your experience again, @Libby2563. I missed these threads the first time around.

I’m very sorry it did not work for your gelding but I appreciate the knowledge and experience you’ve shared.

[the_sandiest_shoes]

Oh god - I’m so so sorry.

I’m actually terrified this might be the case with mine too . Also Hanoverian but coming 9 - there are some other things about her that make me wonder, like the fact her LF has forever been swollen above and often below the fetlock. I will ultrasound the heck out of all legs and ask them to check for this specifically - she has only now been truly lame but since I’ve gotten her at 5, has been intermittently unhappy under saddle.