Surgical and Post

SURGICAL AND POST-OPERATIVE THERAPY OF CLUB FOOTED AND ROTATION OF
THE PHALANX 3
What are the surgical therapy and non-surgical treatment available for Club-footed horse?
(Theinmolliarasi – B04178016)
As for mild cases, nonsurgical treatment methods are sought, including extended-toe
shoes, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and mild exercise. For cases that are moderate to
severe in nature or unresponsive to medical treatment, superior check ligament desmotomy
(cutting) and elevation of the heels with wedge pads is recommended. In severe cases, a distal
check ligament desmotomy and splinting are often combined with the proximal check ligament
desmotomy to achieve maximum tendon/muscle lengthening, potentially resulting in a better
response to corrective shoeing. In adult horses, corrective trimming is one of the most common
treatments. The trimming cannot be too severe, but should be done every two weeks or so to
effectively and comfortably retrain the relevant soft tissues. Senior horses should be treated with
extra care because they do not have the hoof regeneration abilities that younger horses do. The
best course of action for a horse with one or more club feet depends on his age, the cause of the
condition and the severity of the case.
What are the post-surgery therapy or treatment for club-footed horse/ foal?
(Theinmolliarasi – B04178016)
Rest and recovery time are needed to allow the hoof to regain the full flexibility. If the
foal is in pain, then medication should be administered in line with veterinarian’s advice. Gentle
exercise at first, under the specialist’s advice, is recommended before turning out to a grassy
paddock. Care with diet and aiming for slow steady growth will enable to grow into its full
potential. If your foal’s limb is strapped or bandaged, regular changes will assist the healing.
Careful farriering to maintain your foal’s hooves will greatly help to correct the condition. After
surgery, the first six weeks are critical to healing. Care and patience are required during this time
to allow the ligament to heal and strengthen. Rest and limited, gentle exercise are best, and
observation and monitoring the limb will ensure a rapid recovery and allow your foal to grow
into a strong healthy horse.
Figure 1 and Figure 2: Club Foot

Read more at: https://wagwalking.com/horse/condition/club-foot
Sankar B, Kamath V, Macdonald M,

Murali SR. A simple and inexpensive
splint for phalangeal fractures.
Orthopaedics. 2006 May; 29(5): 407-
409
Sankar B, Kamath V, Macdonald M,
Murali SR. A simple and inexpensive
splint for phalangeal fractures.
Orthopaedics. 2006 May; 29(5): 407-
409
Ruggles, A. 2012. Developmental orthopedic disorders in foals and yearlings. In: “Modern
Feeding Management for Healthy and Compromised Horses.” Proc. 18th Kentucky
Equine Research Conference, Lexington, Ky., p.127-132.
What are the surgical therapy and non-surgical treatment available for rotation of phalanx
3? (Gayathiri – B04178016)
The period during which we have the greatest potential to influence outcome is before the
horse even starts showing signs of foot pain (pre-emptive treatment). Cryotherapy (standing in
ice boots) has been shown to be protective to the foot and a means of prevention. Various
medicine can be given to control the pain. Vets may give non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) such as phenylbutazone or flunixin and opiates like morphine and pethidine. Foot
support is a vital part of the treatment to limit movement of the pedal bone and to reduce the pain
experienced by the horse. They can be achieved in a variety of ways including providing a deep
bed which extends all the way to the door, frogs support attached to the feet such as Lilypads or
TLC frog supports, or frog and sole combined supports such as dental impression material or
Styrofoam. Stabling the horse on soft ground, such as in sand or shavings not black walnut and
encouraging the horse to lie down to reduce pressure on the weakened laminae (Orsini and
Divers 2014).
Figure 1: Rotation of Os Phalanx III
What are the post-surgery therapy for rotation of phalanx 3? (Gayathiri – B04178016)
After surgery the horses should be locked up. It is suggested that strict stall rest with
occasional hand-walking and grazing, specifically one week for every day the horse was lame
from laminitis. During recovery, the hoof is actually growing down, remodeling that tissue, and
that takes time about a year for the whole hoof to regrow completely from top to bottom.
Applying corrective shoes, heart-bar shoes, and even resin inserts that cover the back third of the
hoof’s ground surface can help make the horse more comfortable. Footing is critical to a horse’s
comfort and healing after laminitis. Avoid hard surfaces, as they can cause significant pain in a
horse with weakened laminae.
Read more at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqXz2nLEVu0
Orsini J, Divers T. 2014. Equine Emergencies (4th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. pp. 697–712.

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SURGICAL AND POST-OPERATIVE THERAPY OF CLUB FOOTED AND ROTATION OF

Figure 1 and Figure 2: Club Foot

Sankar B, Kamath V, Macdonald M,

Figure 1: Rotation of Os Phalanx III

Read more at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqXz2nLEVu0

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