Bad, deep wound and bone chipped

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aimeerose

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Mare came in today with a massive wound on her back leg (larger than a 50p sized but about 2in deep - literally a gouged out hole, slightly angled upwards) 4" below her hock on the outside but nearer the back. no flesh left to be stitched.
Bone chipped and fragments remove by the vet and well flushed.
Now packed with intrasite gel and covered and bandaged.
Not a lot of swelling considering the size of the wound. LOTS of bruising in the area.
Lots of anti-biotics and bute given and vet going to xray tomorrow if she thinks its necessary.

No idea what has caused it and field has been checked and no 'sticky out-y' things found.

Anyone had bone chip injuries? With nasty flesh wounds? How did they heal?
 
Yes i had a horse that chipped his fetlock bone twice! Unfortunately he never fully recovered because he wouldn't do box rest (weaved which made healing almost impossible) so was penned in a small area for his 'box rest' period but this obviously wasn't good enough as he had too much movement on the joint so it 'over healed' for want of a better description. It produced too much bone growth and this then rubbed against his ligaments, making him permanently slightly lame.

Sorry for a negative reply, but the key thing is to make sure your horse stays fairly immobile if that's what the vet suggests.
 
yes, mine healed fine once infection on the bone (in my poor mare's case) was sorted out (it happened when she was away at stud, similar injury, but they didn't bother with the vet..!)
since it's obviously been kept as clean as possible and the mare's already had antibiotics etc, hopefully it'll be fine... i take it the tendon sheath and tendons weren't touched? intrasite gel is absolutely marvellous stuff, it is amazing how quickly it gets new flesh filling up a hole.
fingers crossed for a really good quick recovery.
 
Had one remarkably similar with one of the 3 yr old (as he was then) racehorses - went through some park railing fencing when he forgot the breaks! Left half his near hind on the fence....
- Intrasite is brilliant stuff and for when it was once allowed out in the open Dermobian - (which Im told is now illegal and not allowed anymore for developing proud flesh) But there must be something similar which does the same job?
Bones are a different matter and I hope the Xray shows good news tomorrow - As he was 3 at the time - had a year off broken as a late 4yr old. Had first race over hurdles - came 2nd and has won 3 chases since. Vets are remarkable creatures! - Keep us posted!
 
Hi there,

Thank you all so much for your replies.
I have spoken to the vet since the xrays came back and it looks like she has totally shattered the splint bone, there are bone fragments that cannot be removed as she's not a surgical candidate (the cannon could be fractured so anaesthetic and dropping her is to risky also the vets at Newmarket said that removing the whole splint bone which is what they would have to do in the instance has limited recovery anyway)
The vet has said that with LOTS of box rest and multiple antibiotics she may have a slim chance of recovering to a certain extent, but possibly never being sound again. Since the bone fragments cannot be removed there is a strong chance of them causing problems, the cannon bone fracture wont show properly for another week.
I really don't think this is going to have a good outcome
frown.gif

I'm reluctant to start massive long periods of box rest with such slim odds of success as it seems like putting her through more stress.

Upset and confused today
confused.gif
 
So sorry to hear things are worse than first thought. I know you will do what's best for your horse. Lots of people on here have been through devastating times with their horses and will understand how you are feeling. (((hugs))).
 
If the cannon isn't fractured can they operate to remove the splint bone? My horse had this done last year and it was very successful.

Hugs to you, what a dreadful thing to happen.

xx
 
[ QUOTE ]
If the cannon isn't fractured can they operate to remove the splint bone? My horse had this done last year and it was very successful.

Hugs to you, what a dreadful thing to happen.

xx

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you, New Market have said that due to the likely hood of a Canon fracture they cannot operate at the moment and would be reluctant to remove the entire splint bone
frown.gif


*edited to add that I've now seen the xrays and can totally understand why the vets are not wanting to operate. The splint bone is totally shattered and in multiple pieces at the top, there is a hole on it from the impact (what ever caused it) and fragments displaced all around the site and into the tissue. There is also a long fracture running down the bone on the opposite side of the impact.
The vet is still saying it 'could' mend but has posted the xrays to New Market for their opinion, the amount of fragment and displaced bone as well as the 'hole' makes it very touch and go.
Even if the 'hole' knits up there are multiple bone chips just waiting to cause issues ... not to mention the long fracture.
TBH having seen the xray I'm amazed they are holding out any hope at all
frown.gif


New Market are calling back on Thurs after viewing the xrays with a more definitive opinion. At the moment she's on lots of bute and happily munching hay, I'm just trying to enjoy the time I have with her
crazy.gif
 
Thank you all for your messages, her RIP is in NL as the 2nd opinion came back with equally negative feedback, the damage was just to great.

I'm still in shock but relieved she is no longer in pain
 
One of my old horses was kicked on the front of his shoulder blade and had a bone chip and hairline fractures - he was really good in his box rest and spent 3 months in (slight overkill to make sure fractures fused properly). Was a very different horse after - he would hack alone, which he didn't do before!!!

We did XC etc after no problems so there is a success story or two out there!!
 
Baggage one of our mares had a near identical injury and I poulticed her for three months. Every few weeks bone fragments appeared on the poultice and although it took almost 18 months from injury to ridden again, she went sound and competed XC again.
I realise when the splint bone spliters like that it's a hard decision, but perhaps give her 18 months off as a brood mare then see how she is. (you would have to cover by AI).
Uor mare kicked out at a bridleway gate that had a huge trailer deliberately put across it to make getting through difficult for riders. She hit the metal part of the trailer and injured herself.
A similar injury was operated on at huge expense and both took the same length of time to recover. The wound took three months as above but healed to a thin white scar over time.
I hope the prognosis is better as more is known about it.
 
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