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Freeze Firing Tendons
By Dr. Barak Amram in Equine | 8 comments | Add Your Case
Related Categories: Freeze Firing, Sports SurgeryPin-firing and freeze firing are two procedures that you will not learn in veterinary school but if you are dealing with race horses or other types of performance horses, you will definitely stumble upon these procedures.
They are both commonly known in the horse industry, and have been around for ages.The pin firing is a hot iron used to effectively burn, sear, or destroy tissue. While often done with a pointed iron (hence the name – pin firing).
Freeze firing is an alternative procedure that is done by applying liquid nitrogen, with an iron of some sort, and then applying it to the horse’s leg.
The idea behind it is to bring an acute healing reaction to a chronic injury, and shorten the time of the natural healing process.
You will find both Veterinarians and horse owners that are against or for these procedures and often you will here the words “cruelty” and “ethics”. One thing is for sure, people still do it and whomever believes in it does it on a routine bases, even when there is no injury (the thought behind it is that it will prevent injury by making the structure stronger).
The picture shown is an example of freeze firing a chronic Suspensory ligament injury.
PS: I will try to find a picture of pin firing too.
8 comments Get an avatar
Hi Dr.Barak
Nice to see your site.Its quite interesting.I am an equine veterinarian from Indiaworking with thoroughbred farms.I will agree with your statment that people still do this procedure and few swear by it.The idea is to know the right case and the correct procedure.I have seen few older vets do this with great success.
Bye
Like to be in touch with cases.
Dear Dr.Zulfikar,
Thanks for your input. I agree, I think that some treatments do work, if not they would not have been use so often. for the record, I do believe in freeze firing but only for owners and trainers that understand the scar tissue that form afterwards and only for superficial injuries like the lower third of the suspensory ligament and not the upper two thirds which are too deep to penetrate.
Keep me posted about other cases, I would love to debate and consult. I bet you see many different things in India.
It would be great to see a post here from India! something that will interest other people in the States and other countries that visit this web site. You will have full credit. Let me know if you find it difficult and I will guide you thought the first stages.
Be in touch,
Barak Amram DVM
PS: Did you know that you can design a web page for yourself here on the site, for free!!!? And a website developer that will guide you through it.
Thanks Dr.Barak,I will definately be in touch.Thanks for the prompt reply,nice hearing from your side,I will definately go through the website and try to put few things from here which will interest everyone.
Bye
I have a cob with a blwn check ligerment in a hind leg (near side) This is the 3rd year we have struggled to get him into regular work. Always happens in the summer around this time. This year it’s worse than last. I am wondering if firing it would help him. Any advice would be great.
some procedures include chemical burning, does it work too?
Before coming to the conclusion that this method works you would be wise to do more research and read this article:
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/horse-health/2006/november/21/pinfiring-proves-obsolete.aspx
I don’t even know how i ended up here. but OMG !!! WAHT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE ? this is one of the cruelest things i have ever heard. it makes me cry. it makes me scared for humanity i hope there is a god
If I may, I am not a professional, only a trainer, but I think that simply because a procedure has some effect doesn’t always justify its use. Why isn’t it that people can’t consider patience in healing, retiring a horse, or considering it for another more suitable job? I sometimes think that many cruel treatments are motivated by greed or self serving motivations the part of the human.
That said, to “is there a God”, be comforted, not all treatments that look painful are. Many vets aren’t out to torture animals, but are motivated to do something that has a lasting effect of relief for the horse. This is not different than what Dr’s sometimes do with humans.
I’m just saying…