Barbaro continues to Improve
 

It looks like he continues to get better.

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=34258

Barbaro Gets New Bandages, Screws; Radiographs 'Look Great'
by Blood-Horse Staff
Date Posted: 7/3/2006 4:18:06 PM
Last Updated: 7/3/2006 4:18:06 PM

Edited New Bolton Center release
Doctors at New Bolton Center's George D. Widener Hospital on Monday changed the cast on the hind right leg of Barbaro for the second time since the winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) was injured in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) on May 20.
"Barbaro is back in his stall and is doing well," said chief of surgery Dean W. Richardson, who replaced the cast he had put on Barbaro on June 13. "Also, we replaced two bent screws and added three new ones across the pastern joint. His radiographs look great, and he had another successful pool recovery."

Barbaro remains in intensive care at the hospital at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.

I'm glad. Day by day.

Ditto.
Thanks for the update.

Me too! A long journey but hope lives on in this brave horse!

Thanks for the good news...

I did not read that report as positively as you did. I thought, "Uh oh, they had to go back in and do more surgery." I don't remember the possibility of additional surgery/screws ever being discussed as part of his recovery.

Also, the DRF story had this disturbing line:

"New Bolton veterinarians declined to comment further on Barbaro's second surgery and the latest cast change or whether there was cause for concern over the leg's long-term structural viability."

On the positive side, "His radiographs look great" is certainly good news.

I think Richardson was probably not being overly cautious when he gave Barbaro a 50-50 chance to make it. The additional surgery is a reminder that Barbaro is still in serious danger.

--Dunbar

i'm just glad he continues to defy the odds.

I agree with Dunbar. The fact that they had to do more surgery can't be a good sign. That news is a lot more concerning than it is reassuring.

The Jacksons were told he continues to make excellent progress. The replacement of screws and the cast change have always been part of the process. The surgery was expected. The important thing is that his radiographs continue to look good. I'm no expert but I was told by someone close to the situation that he continues to just keep getting better. The reason they didn't comment to the drf on the leg's long-term structural viability is the same reason they haven't commented on it from the beginning, because they won't know for months. This was clearly good news, not bad.

They were always going to do this. It was technically surgery, but it really was replacing screws, which they expected to do. His odds are better than 50-50 now, in fact I was told they are significantly better than 50-50.

Where are you getting this info that they were "always going to do this." I would have expected them to say this from the outset, if it had been a routine part of recovery.

They have publicly mentioned plans to change the cast. I don't remember anyone saying "after 2 months we are going to open up the leg and put a couple more screws in".

And "technically surgery"? What's just "technical" about it? They not only replaced screws but they added 2-3 new ones. That sounds like full-blown surgery to me. And it suggests to me that something wasn't lining up the way they'd hoped.

It would have been an excellent time, however, for the spokesperson to say that the additional surgery was not unexpected.

I hope I'm wrong.

--Dunbar

I am glad you have your DVM, suggesting that something wasn't lining up without even knowing the situation. They thought after the initial surgery that it was likely that some screws would need to be replaced because they sometimes get bent. Additional screws being inserted is common too for an injury like this. The most important thing is that the radiographs look "great", especially on his left hind foot, which is really the greatest risk to him, due to laminitis. That has really been the greatest concern since the original surgery. My friend said they aren't that concerned with the right hind leg with all the screws. That injury appears to be going better than anyone thought possible.

Guys stop this ok. This is no topic to start a pissing match on. This horses survival is not only something we in the game who loved him are praying for, its also a very important thing for the industry. If he survives its a feel good story that the common person will love. If he does not, racing gets dealt another very bad PR blow. We can debate what actually is going on but it won't get us anywhere. In the end we will still all be in the same place praying for his recovery. How about we just leave it at that and fight about some other stuff. There is never a shortage of topics to squabble over on here and if need be I will start a thread where we can fight if only to stop this one from continuing on in this tone. Now how bad a thread has to be developing for ME to please ask people to stop? Geez, now thats bad. Enough please.

Glad to hear the big guy continues to be doing well. Can't wait for the day he can walk out there!!

True. When oracle thinks a thread is going in the wrong direction, it must be REALLY bad.

Boldruler, if you are truly close to the situation, then I apologize.

I was afraid that we were all on the brink of another huge letdown, and I was trying to mentally prepare myself (and others) for it. But I was relying on superficial info and logic. Boldruler and others may have access to much better info.

oracle is correct that there is not much point in further dissecting the info. We're all pulling for the horse.

--Dunbar

You saying "enough please" is probably the funniest thing I have ever read. The fact is the Barbaro continues to progress and his latest procedure and radiographs are evidence of that.

Bold yeah it is but the bottom line is that we are all rooting for him and all we can do is hope and pray.

No big deal. I do have a friend in direct contact with the situation. I just thought you guys were being jerks and were some of those Barbaro bashers. I read the posts again and I see what you were saying. I apologize. The horse is doing great though and it is looking more like he is going to make it. They were ectastic at the radiographs. The Vet is a very optimistic guy, but cautious, and he is suprised at how well the horse is doing, particularly how well the horse has behaved. The horse was pretty high strung on the track but he has been a model patient at New Bolton.

Well, then, that's excellent news. Keep us posted.

--Dunbar

Personal interests aside, I highly doubt this is good news, and am skeptical that replacing the screws was always the plan. Screws don't get replaced and it feels like there should be a serious concern that the bone grafts didn't take. Probably the biggest concern is that opening him up again brings back the risk of infection so, in that case, he could be sadly bad to where he was weeks ago.

Hey, obviously we all hope he makes it, that goes without saying, but sorry if I find nothing wrong with attempting to inject a little reality into this situation. I will trust what a doctor told me over vague supposed connections to the owners and spin.

screws do get replaced if they are bent. taking into consideration the seriousness of the initial injury, the # of screws inserted, i doubt this wasn't considered a possibility. besides, those screws are holding all those pieces together until they knit together, seems you'd want to get them back together in good shape, and bent screws aren't going to help that much.

every day this horse makes it is good news. the further along he gets, the better. considering everything he's gone thru, there has to be a lot of surprise that he hadn't had setbacks before now. a setback yes, gloom and doom, no.

The screws bending is a sign that the graft didn't hold and it is unlikely when they closed him up six weeks ago they expected to put in more screws. Far from impossible but not in the original plan. Like you said, it's a setback, and hopefully he will be fine. But none of this is good news nor was it planned originally. That doesn't, however, mean it's terrible news.

Wrong. Stop posting nonsense you know nothing about.

Actually I had an extensive conversation with a surgeon about this before posting.

I have no idea why you jumped on earlier posters who were just stating the obvious, as I am, about yesterday's news. The additional surgery is cause for pause. That's all.

I'm sure we all wish Barbaro the best but that doesn't preclude talking about this realistically.

And it won't.

I have to sweat for the next 4 hours at Shea, but you post complete garbage. Enough with your "I highly doubt" and nonsense. No DVM told you anything either, so stop lying. No DVM would ever comment on the top DVM in the country and his patient. My "vague supposed connections to the owners" has been my friend for over a decade and he has known the Jacksons all his life. Enough with garbage posters like you pretending you know something about the situation. You know nothing. I love the "the biggest concern is that opening him up again brings back the risk of infection", any idiot know that, but let me guess, your doctor friend told you that. Hilarious.

As for your "I find nothing wrong with attempting to inject a little reality into this situation", what reality is that? The one you made up in your head? I am sure the people at New Bolton think this is bad news, but they just forgot to tell the owners and the press. Wake up and enter the world of reality. Typical Barbaro Basher.

SURE YOU DID. I am sure surgeons have plenty of time to talk to you about anything, let alone other doctor's patients. Enough with your lying. Nobody believes any DVM, let alone a surgeon, which there are a handul of, is sitting around with you on a holiday weekend talking about Barbaro. Why don't I just say I talked directly to Dr. Richardson? Hilarious. I admit my conversation was with a friend that spoke with the family, in fact, my friend spoke to his father that spoke to the family, but even if I am the 3rd person down the chain it is more believable than some guy who claims a surgeon was talking to him this morning about Barbaro.

Dude, you need to relax. Sorry if it upsets you that others are allowed to post opinions about this. Tough.

So, now you're a friend of a friend. That's great.

I have a LOT of friends as well. I just don't blab about it on the internet. And, frankly, you're the one turning this into an argument.

Just relax, because people have a right to post things you disagree with. And, frankly, your snide remarks claiming I lied about talking to a doctor are insulting.

I have always been a friend of a friend. I have met the owners but they aren't my friend. He said they were told the horse is doing great and that the surgery was not something they were surprised by and that the horse is continuing to improve.

People can post whatever they want, but you lies about talking to a surgeon this morning border on ridiculous. Most people didn't even know about his surgery until this morning and I doubt this surgeon you talked to was just available while you were posting on some website. Hilarious. Lies on chats are expected, but that one is way out there.

Ruler you really need to stop with the God complex. For the millionth time, there are plenty of people here who know huge folks in the game, and we actually know them ourselves, not through a friend who knows them,
I can assure you that the poster whom you just insulted knows plenty of folks himself. I also know that the person to whom you are insulting would never post that he spoke to a surgeon without having done so.
I have no idea why you attack people who also happen to know folks in this game and I find it bizarre as well. Lighten up.

I'm not looking for a fight, and I'm not sure why you are making this into one, but I tell you what....the surgeon I have discussed this with, yeah I just hung up on him again ( and I never said he was a vet but we can discuss that if you REALLY want to ) will be staying with me opening week at Saratoga. You are more than welcome to get together with us and discuss this with us. That would be great. Feel free to PM me and I will tell you where to find us.

You must stop with the claims of lying Ruler.

The guys probably knows a ton more than me, but not about this situation. Look, no surgeon talked to him today about Barbaro. If you believe that, well you probably believe everything.

you do understand that the surgeon he speaks of might be friend or family member--and that they might have been having a conversation around the dinner table--and that even without firsthand knowledge of a case most surgeons can offer substantial insight in to what may or may not occur. I don't think he is claiming to have had a personal consult with a surgeon to discuss barbaro. You sound a bit unglued.

Why is it necessary to make this personal? I said I talked to a surgeon about this. I am accountable for what I say in ways very few here are.

Stop calling me a liar. It would upset my mother a great deal.

You were the one who said " I will trust what a doctor told me over vague supposed connections to the owners and spin." If you want to question me, I will question you.

I will be up at Saratoga and might try to go to the sales with my friend, although I am not a buyer. I am sure he would love to hear the opinion of an MD on an operation to a horse. He told me the DVM that did the surgery said things were great, but I guess an MD who has never even touched the horse, knows better. I am not sure why the owners would spin anything. In fact, they have been trying to keep as little information as possible out there about the horse. They have a new star horse in Showing Up, and even though they didn't breed him like Barbaro, he is becoming a huge favorite of their entire operation. In fact, after next weekend Barbaro will be the top earner of all horses this year, and Showing Up will move into second. Pretty good for a medium sized operation like Lael.

Coming from you, that first line is the funniest thing I have ever read. :eek:

When Oracle steps in you know things are going down the wrong road, but he is exactly right. Pissing matches over someone you talked to or a vet you know are kind of morose for a conversation like this. The fact is, Dr. Richardson is Barbaro's doc and no one knows the situation better than him and he's not talking all too much. He also said its a long road back and there are bumps along the way. Interpeting every news item and debating whether its a bump or a good development or bad news, is kind of disrespectful to the people who brought the animal this far.

Ninety nine times out of one hundred, horses never leave the track alive when something like that happens. For that reason alone, Barbaro is a living, breathing miracle. The miracle was made possible by people like Prado, the vets on track, folks like Dr. Richardson, and the Jacksons, and the animal himself. Everyone had a small hand in it.

Knowing that, and how far the horse has gotten and how much emotion he invokes, I think it is borderline shameful that we as outsiders with less than common knowledge of the situation are sitting here making judgements on things we know nothing about. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but unless someone here performed this surgery on Barbaro, I dont think they are qualified to speak as to his health or lack there of.

Kind of silly, this whole thing. For all anyone knows, the screws got bent as a result of bone growing back. Then again, .... I remember reading that the number of screws used on Barbaro was more than used on any other horse with a similar condition. I'm more curious about the new screws. I'm sure there will be more public information soon enough as the press does it's job. The rest is just supposition. No reason for dirty words at twenty paces.

First of all, I never said the surgery did not go well, and I am quite sure a great vet like Dr. Richardson did an exceptional job, and I have no reason to believe the surgery wasn't completely successful. What I did say was the fact that this surgery was necessary was cause for concern. I hardly see how that is out of line. I think all of us can reasonably agree that any surgery is a cause for concern. In this case, as I stated, it reintroduces the possibility of infection, and as my surgeon friend told me it probably increases that risk a little bit.

I think the opinion of a neutral ( and extremely qualified ) party is more informative in this case than the connections who even you are saying are being ( understandably ) tight lipped about this. I have no doubt that the medical opinions I heard are more than qualified. I am sorry you won't be in Saratoga the first week as I think you would be more than satisfied had you gotten together with us.

This is looking like another ill-advised and mean-spirited thread to me. I'm expecting it to disappear quickly as we wouldn't want any newcomers to get the wrong idea.