Barbaro continued

Barbaro's Vet: 'His Leg Looks Excellent'
by Blood-Horse Staff
Date Posted: 6/13/2006 2:52:01 PM
Last Updated: 6/15/2006 7:34:18 AM

Dr. Dean W. Richardson, chief of surgery at the University of
Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, on Tuesday got his first look at the
right rear leg of Barbaro since he performed surgery on the colt and
reported "his leg looks excellent."
Richardson was able to view the progress when the cast on the leg of
the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner was changed Tuesday.

"The incision has healed well and judging by the radiographs, the graft
is opacifying ('taking')," Richardson said. "Callus is forming nicely,
and all of the implants (plate and screws) look unchanged."

The cast was replaced under general anesthesia, and Barbaro had a very
smooth pool recovery.

Barbaro, who is recovering from a shattered hind leg sustained at the
Preakness Stakes (gr. I), continues to please veterinarians at the
George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals, and he remains in
intensive care at the New Bolton Center.

The cast, enclosing the hoof and running up to just below the hock, was
put in place May 21 following Barbaro's surgery. During the operation,
a device called a locking compression plate, or LCP, was employed to
stabilize the injured area, with 27 screws used on the 16-hole plate.