Barbaro has more surgery on his left hind hoof, leg -1/14- Barbaro is Comfortable now.

Posted on Sun, Jan. 14, 2007
phillynews.com
By Mike Jensen
Inquirer Staff Writer


Barbaro underwent another surgical procedure yesterday at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, this time a "previously planned" one under general anesthesia that included removing more of his left hind hoof wall and cutting a tendon in that left hind leg.

All of this was a result of the laminitis that beset Barbaro's left hind hoof in July, causing surgeon Dean Richardson to remove 80 percent of the hoof. Since then, it has been growing back unevenly.

Yesterday's procedure at the Kennett Square facility was not necessarily another setback, but another response to the "significant setback" the Kentucky Derby winner suffered last week when damaged tissue in his left hind hoof was removed.

"While his condition was unchanged over the last two days, we were unable to fully assess his left hind foot with him in his stall," Richardson said. "In today's procedure, another area of undermined hoof wall was removed. The left hind deep digital flexor tendon was cut to help decrease the pull on the coffin bone by that tendon. This was previously done in July, but the tendon had healed and was pulling on the coffin bone, contributing to the malalignment of the coffin bone.

"Because he has been more uncomfortable on his left hind, we put a cast back on the right hind lower limb for additional support."

Barbaro was woken up from anesthesia in New Bolton's recovery pool and "had an uneventful recovery," Richardson reported, adding: "He continues to receive intensive management for his discomfort on the left hind foot."

Co-owner Gretchen Jackson said yesterday afternoon that Richardson had just called her and told her that everything had gone well.

"I didn't know what to expect, so I can't say that I was surprised or let down," Jackson said. "I think they were going to clean up things and put on a cast, and that was it."

Richardson said last week that a cast put on the previous week did not cause the problem in his left hind hoof, that the middle of the hoof was a problem that was eventually going to have to be dealt with, even if the horse had been shipped to a horse farm in Kentucky. Right now, that move has been put on hold.

"It's an ongoing situation, but we're certainly a step better than in July," Jackson said.

Contact staff writer Mike Jensen at 215-854-4489 or mjensen@phillynews.com.