cutting annular ligament to promote tendon healing

[Sidney]

To cut a long story short!!
10 weeks ago my gelding gashed his hind leg out hunting. Up until now we have been treating it as a 'wound' - but despite box rest bute and several courses of antibiotics, he was still at least 3/10ths lame.
My current vet could not offer any explanations so we had another vet ultrasound him yesterday and gave the worst news possible - damage to the superficial flexor tendon with the scan showing up a small hole and significant disruption in 2 other areas of the fibres.
Initially the vet said that he would have a 40% chance of returning to soundness, but if we considered cutting the 'annular ligament' he would have a lot better prognosis.
Has anyone had experiences of this, good or bad? Also any ideas of costs?
Thanks for reading.

[amymay]

I really can't get my head round cutting ligaments. Sorry.

It was an option discussed with my vet for Amy at one point (Annular ligament) but given the questionable success rate it was not persued.

Time, time, time and more time would really be my preferred option.

However, I think I may be a lone voice in my opinions on this.

[ihatework]

Why would cutting a ligament help with healing a tendon?
Sorry if I am being thick!

[K27]

I know of a horse that was treated for the same problem a few years back and had the Annular Ligament cut- John Walmsley did the Op - she was going so much better after the operation and came back to full soundness. Sorry -I don't know how much it was to as the owners insurance paid.

[amymay]

[ QUOTE ]
Is Amy still with you?

[/ QUOTE ]
No sadly not, I lost her last year. I have the grey horse on my siggy now.

[Sidney]

I know what you are saying - making a horse worse to get it better seems bizarre to me also!
Is Amy still with you?

[Sidney]

I think it is to give the tendon more room to heal?

[Sidney]

Was that due to the tendon injury as I haven't discounted worst case scenario of him being pts. I am afraid that I believe that all horses should have a job and would not consider keeping a permanetly lame horse - not fair on him or me, especially if he was in pain.

[amymay]

No, not in this particular case.

[bonny]

I have a horse with a similar sounding injury and read about cutting the annular ligament - but my vet said no way, the sucess rate is very low, can lead to other complications. My horse was eventually turned out and now 10 months later is sound and about to start walking.