13:05:46 EDT Jul 12, 2006 DAN GELSTON
<!-- CPPara1-->KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. (AP) - Barbaro's condition turned "potentially serious" again Wednesday, a day after the Kentucky Derby winner's veterinarian gave a more upbeat report, saying the colt was stable and resting comfortably. <!-- CPPara1End-->
<!-- CPPara2-->Dean Richardson, the chief surgeon at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, also said the colt faced "tough odds" and that doctors were looking at all possible treatments to keep the three-year-old comfortable. <!-- CPPara2End-->
<!-- CPPara3-->Several days after the colt had his cast changed for the fourth time in a week, Barbaro's condition suffered another setback seven weeks after his catastrophic injuries in the Preakness Stakes on May 20. <!-- CPPara3End-->
"Our entire staff is determined to do all they can for this magnificent horse," Richardson said in a statement issued by the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals.
Barbaro, who shattered three bones in his right hind leg at the start of the Preakness at Pimlico Race Course, has undergone three surgical procedures in the past week. In the most recent one Saturday, Richardson replaced the titanium plate and 27 screws and also treated several infections - one in the injured leg and a small abscess on the sole of his uninjured left hind hoof.
"Today we will focus on further diagnostics and keeping our patient comfortable," Richardson said.
Barbaro's recovery had been going smoothly until this recent series of setbacks. Saturday's surgery lasted three hours, and Richardson replaced the hardware that had been inserted into the leg May 21, the day after the Preakness.
"He's facing tough odds and his condition is guarded," Richardson said.
Owner Roy Jackson said the sudden changes in Barbaro's condition has made this week very tough for him He continues to visit Barbaro every day and said the colt's appearance Tuesday "looked all right. He looked good."
"We've been concerned all along," Jackson said Wednesday. "It's just one of those things. It's very difficult to climb the mountain when something like that happened."
A major concern centres on the infection in the right rear pastern joint - located above the hoof that was shattered into more than 20 pieces. While most of the fractured bones have healed, the joint that connects the long and short pastern bones remains problematic.
Barbaro also was treated for small abscess on the sole of his uninjured left hind hoof. That could increase the risk of laminitis, a potentially fatal disease sometimes brought on by uneven weight balance.
"There's so much concern. It's significant," Richardson said in The Washington Post on Wednesday. "Two weeks ago, we were at 50-50 (for survival). With this new problem, we are less than that." All decisions are being made after consulting with owners Gretchen and Roy Jackson, the statement said.
<!-- CPPara1-->KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. (AP) - Barbaro's condition turned "potentially serious" again Wednesday, a day after the Kentucky Derby winner's veterinarian gave a more upbeat report, saying the colt was stable and resting comfortably. <!-- CPPara1End-->
<!-- CPPara2-->Dean Richardson, the chief surgeon at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, also said the colt faced "tough odds" and that doctors were looking at all possible treatments to keep the three-year-old comfortable. <!-- CPPara2End-->
<!-- CPPara3-->Several days after the colt had his cast changed for the fourth time in a week, Barbaro's condition suffered another setback seven weeks after his catastrophic injuries in the Preakness Stakes on May 20. <!-- CPPara3End-->
"Our entire staff is determined to do all they can for this magnificent horse," Richardson said in a statement issued by the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals.
Barbaro, who shattered three bones in his right hind leg at the start of the Preakness at Pimlico Race Course, has undergone three surgical procedures in the past week. In the most recent one Saturday, Richardson replaced the titanium plate and 27 screws and also treated several infections - one in the injured leg and a small abscess on the sole of his uninjured left hind hoof.
"Today we will focus on further diagnostics and keeping our patient comfortable," Richardson said.
Barbaro's recovery had been going smoothly until this recent series of setbacks. Saturday's surgery lasted three hours, and Richardson replaced the hardware that had been inserted into the leg May 21, the day after the Preakness.
"He's facing tough odds and his condition is guarded," Richardson said.
Owner Roy Jackson said the sudden changes in Barbaro's condition has made this week very tough for him He continues to visit Barbaro every day and said the colt's appearance Tuesday "looked all right. He looked good."
"We've been concerned all along," Jackson said Wednesday. "It's just one of those things. It's very difficult to climb the mountain when something like that happened."
A major concern centres on the infection in the right rear pastern joint - located above the hoof that was shattered into more than 20 pieces. While most of the fractured bones have healed, the joint that connects the long and short pastern bones remains problematic.
Barbaro also was treated for small abscess on the sole of his uninjured left hind hoof. That could increase the risk of laminitis, a potentially fatal disease sometimes brought on by uneven weight balance.
"There's so much concern. It's significant," Richardson said in The Washington Post on Wednesday. "Two weeks ago, we were at 50-50 (for survival). With this new problem, we are less than that." All decisions are being made after consulting with owners Gretchen and Roy Jackson, the statement said.
