© J. Scott Simpson
posted here with the permission of the author
first posted on the Internet in The Horseman's Advisor
It has been more than a year since I made my opinion about neurectomies publicly known at the Laminitis Symposium. The following is an update of my personal experience.
1993 was a very busy year for Tonka. It started in March in the practice pen, doing brandings and some ranch-type "cow catching." April saw the beginning of the Old Timer's Rodeo series that I compete in. The first two competitions I heeled six steers each day for three partners. These were fast steers. I roped calves and also breakaway roped off of him. In addition, I mounted my header, Don Parsons, in the C\R and B\A and at the second rodeo I also mounted a barrel racer for two runs when her own horse got hurt in the trailer. At these two rodeos on consecutive days, he made a total of 30 runs. (Shame on me for allowing a 19-year-old horse to be used this hard.) I might add that I placed one day in the T\R, Don won the C\R both days and I won a go- 'round and the breakaway. The can chaser was third in the average. Not bad for an old horse with a five-year neurectomy in his right fore limb.
With a month to go until the next Old Timers, I practiced two evenings a week at the local club. I usually make about a dozen runs during practice, but as we were short of heelers, I was running about twenty each night.
In May, Jayne and I started roping at home and she took him to the practice sessions and headed off of him. At the May Old Timers series, Don acquired another calf horse to ride and I only roped calves, heeled and used him in the breakaway roping. This cut us back to 10 runs a day, which he handled quite well. I was beginning to notice a pronounced head nod, though, and some minor pointing, indicating some heel discomfort in his left foot. Bill Miller had observed these symptoms the previous fall when he used Tonka at our branding. The symptoms were not obvious through the spring, but by summer were obvious as a grade 2 lameness.
In July, Tonka re-injured the middle sesmoidean in his right leg. (A fence accident.) The injury was mild, but a lay-up of at least four months was indicated. At Jayne's suggestion, I had Dr. Doug Corey block the heel area of his left foreleg and he immediately showed relief in that foot. I made the decision to have Dr. Corey perform a neurectomy in that limb and take advantage of only one lay-up period.
On the first of August, the surgery took place under a general anesthesia and we elected to use a procedure pioneered by California veterinarian, Jerry Black. Two incisions are made for each nerve, and two-and-one-half inches of the nerve is removed. The rest period after this type of neurectomy is a bit longer, but the benefit is that there is less chance of neuroma formation. Six months later, Tonka has been back in light service for the winter and I expect to use him moderately for at least the next two years. He is going on to six years since his first neurectomy in his right fore leg.
As a last note; I would have had Tonka "nerved" again even if I were going to retire him. He doesn't deserve to have to live with chronic pain. Pain is something I personally understand and, as long as his stewardship is entrusted to me, I'll try to keep him comfortable and use him as long as he enjoys his work.
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