Anyone here have experience with pastern arthrodesis surgery? My 12 yr old warmblood has bad ringbone in his right front. We’ve tried equinox, arthramid injections (can’t have steroids b/c he has Cushings and IR - very well controlled), shockwave, and he’s sound at the walk but still lame at the trot. My vets have recommended he retire. I’m totally devastated. The vets say he’s a candidate for pastern arthodesis surgery- the goal getting him out of pain and pasture sound hopefully for years to come, and maybe a chance I could do some light trail riding. I’m terrified of him having surgery though and all the possible complications and 4 months of stall rest. I want to do what is best for him. Would love some advice if anyone has been through this.
IIRC, @Fharoah went through this with her horse and posted about it, you might check her post history?
My mare had a right front pastern arthrodesis.
She had it about 3 years ago. She healed up great and went back to 100%.
She was a foxhunter. She will be 20 next year so is semi retired because I have 2 young colts I’m starting.
But she healed great and if you didn’t know you wouldnt know
Oh that’s wonderful! Did she have ringbone?
No she had really bad arthritis in the joint and was basically bone on bone. It came on very suddenly and out of nowhere. At least the symptoms did
@Linguini did you end up doing the surgery? How did it go? Considering it for my 23-yr-old baby’s left front.
Yes he had surgery in 1/2023, was in rehab on stall rest 3-4 months, it was a pretty long road in rehab over 15 months. We were back to walk riding by fall 2023. He came back to walk, trot, canter by the end of the year but then had a setback, so we’re just walk trotting right now. He seems happy and comfortable but hes still a 1 on that R front, I’m not sure he’ll ever be 100%. He doesn’t seem to be in pain and seems quite happy living the semi-retired life and doing some light riding
I’m glad to hear he’s recovered enough to not be in pain. Wishing you two the best! I’m curious - did you have a plate and three screws put in? Or just screws? I’m meeting with surgeons still but I’ve heard a number of different methods centered around how much tissue they remove and it seems to have variable results on a case by case basis.
