Barbaro fractures leg in Preakness

[Grace]

Post-op X-Ray -

[Lobodeb]

That looks like an erector set!

Poor baby.

[Vela]

Don't forget about his jockey, Edgar Prado. If it wasn't for him this horse would never have made it off the track. The vets did a WONDERFUL job of putting him back together so far, but Prado got him stopped and prevented him from causing a compound fracture to his leg by trying to keep going after them. If he hadn't been so quick to stop him and get off and hold him still there would have been no choice but to put him down. The vets have said the only thing he had going for him was that he hadn't continued to run and didn't open the wound to compromise blood flow and cause infection. As it was his injury was horrific, but I am saying my prayers he will make it, he has too much courage not to. The jockey, owners, Mr. Matz, and all the vets are putting a huge effort out to save him. He is doing well so far.

[RICHARD]

Post-op X-Ray -

Thanks for posting that pic.

I would really like to know who made the plate and screws.

Synthes is the company that makes the human stuff and I was very interested to see if the adapted human stuff for horses.

The screws are stainless steel and have a special driver to set them.

One small screw for a human runs about 25-40 dolars last time I checked!

[Grace]

I, also, found it extremely interesting. Back in 1995 I had a plate and 7 screws put in my right ankle. The plate and six of the screws were removed a year later - the plate is now on my key ring.

On Barbaro's X-Ray, you can see a couple of small pieces of bone that are just 'there', not screwed or anything. I had a few like that, and eventually new callus formed and the pieces were integrated with the rest of the bone.

[Karen]

They say he has about a fifty-fifty chance of survival, so I am guardedly optimistic. He's a beautiful horse, and the jockey is to be commended as much as possible.

In a way, I almost feel sorry for the horse who won, because no one will even remember his race, just that this is the race when Barbara broke his leg.

[Vela]

I agree, Karen, nobody even really cared that Bernardini ran the race of his life. I am trying to be hopeful that he doesn't have any major setbacks, but he is ahead of the eight ball at the moment. He is eating and is able to get himself up and down by himself without a sling so that's good news. If he can beat the laminitis and possible infection (which he has better odds of beating due to the fact it wasn't compounded on the track) then hopefully he can at least be pasture sound to enjoy a good life. Here's keeping fingers crossed that he comes out on top of the 50/50.

[Suki Wingy]

What happened to him is similar to what happened to my aunt;s horse durring hunting, and he's now a wonderful mount on the flat. Poor baby, I didn't see it because I forgot it was on. (I NEED to sign up to get reminder emails of when big races will be on TV if anyone knows where I can sign up)
I can't belive he kept running, my baby wouldn't. I horse like that only comes around once in a blue moon. Thank god he's a fighter.

[moosmom]

I am praying Barbaro recovers fully and can live out his life in green pastures.

[Vela]

http://tcm.bloodhorse.com//viewstory.asp?id=33683

There is a link to a report from today, if anyone is interested. He is donig very well. He even stood full weight on the leg to scratch his left ear with his left hind hoof...so hopefuly the laminitis fear won't come to reality as he can bear full weight on that leg.

[gemini9961]

I am so heartbroken about the poor guy. I did not see the race but I have been reading the news reports. I pray he survives and can live a life of luxury in a great pasture.

[RICHARD]

just that this is the race when Barbara broke his leg.

[Tralee]

You can watch the race here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkg_g...search=barbaro

and Barbaro breaking through the gate before the race
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJOM8...search=barbaro

[todd]

what sad news

[Grace]

I would really like to know who made the plate and screws.

Synthes is the company that makes the human stuff and I was very interested to see if the adapted human stuff for horses.

Same company, Richard. I found this article - in the Elmira, NY Star-Gazette.

Big Flats' Synthes plays role in Barbaro's healing
Company made plate used to repair champion race horse's broken leg.
By G. JEFFREY AARON
Star-Gazette
May 24, 2006


The stainless steel bone plate used to repair Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro's right hind leg -- broken during Saturday's running of the Preakness -- was made at the Synthes plant in Big Flats.

"The employees are proud to know that they were able to play a part in giving Barbaro a chance to survive his injury," Ronald Lerner, general manager of plant wrote in an e-mail to the Star-Gazette.

"We often hear of injuries to people we know who are treated with our implants and the same sense of pride felt by the Synthes employees is a motivating factor in the excellent quality built into our products."

The plant produced the locking compression plate used to repair the horse's right rear leg.

The plates and screws used on the thoroughbred are widely used in human hospitals around the world. The plate - made from stainless steel using a formula a body will tolerate -- used for Barbaro's ankle would be appropriate for a large adult's thigh bone, according to Christopher Scholl, the director of the company's Vet Division.

The goal of the operation was to have the bone fragments heal and fuse the horse's ankle in a fixed position.

In performing the operation, veterinarian Dr. Dean Richardson put back together as many of the large bone fragments as possible using the plate and individual screws, which were made in Synthes plants in Colorado and Switzerland. The plate now acts to carry the horse's weight while the bone heals.

The locking compression plate is a relatively new technology developed by Synthes and the AO ASIF surgeon group.

The novel feature of the implants are that the screws lock into the bone plate via threads in the screw head.

The process provides a rigid implant that can withstand larger weight loads.

It was introduced in 2000 for humans and Richardson was one of the first veterinary surgeons to try the new technology in horses, Scholl wrote.