Thoroughbred gelding Karelian, who sustained a life threatening injury in July, has been released from Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital. The 8-year-old gelding fractured both right front sesamoid bones, ruptured his suspensory apparatus and disrupted the lateral collateral ligament, dislocating his fetlock during a morning workout. Karelian was sent to orthopedic surgeon, Larry Bramlage, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, who performed a fetlock arthrodesis with pastern support augmentation on July 19. The lengthy procedure involves using plates and screws and polyethylene cable to reconstruct and support the pastern and fetlock.

Karelian progressed well post-operatively through a series of cast changes and was released to continue his rehabilitation under the care of his owner. "If I handed Karelian a script to follow from the beginning he, could not have done better," reported Bramlage. "He responded well to treatment, regained the blood supply to his foot and has progressed without complications. Though not totally out of the woods, his fetlock joint fusion is progressing well. His pastern support is holding up nicely, and he is getting more comfortable day by day. Also importantly the left front foot shows no evidence of overload laminitis, which we always worry about. This is truly a humanitarian mission for his owners. He was good to them and they are just anxious to have him around to live out his days in his home paddock. On occasion people demonstrate a lack of compassion for their horses. More often they demonstrate profound caring, and compassion. Karelian is a wonderful demonstration of the owners love for their horse