Broken splint bone - any experiences?

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Hi

My mare was kicked in the field last week, and while she is hardly lame at all, just sore when you press the area, and is a lot less swollen than she was, the vet thinks she has fractured her splint bone. It's her near hind.

I don't know that it is this yet, she has x-rays on Tuesday, but I was wondering if anyone who has experienced this could answer some questions I have. THe vet has said the prognosis for returning to full normal work is good with this injury, and recovery takes about 6-8 weeks.

Questions are:

Was your horse lame when they had this injury?
How long did it take to get back to riding?
Did you have to start out with a few weeks of walking in hand etc and build back up to normal jumping etc?
Has the injured horse gone back to all the work it was doing before?

Thanks!
 
Many years ago I had a mare who was kicked in the field and fractured a splint bone. Her fracture may have been more complex as she had 6 months box rest. Her return to work was straight forward i.e. a 6 - 8 week fitness programme. However I had had her for many years and there were changes in her. She became prone to laminitis which had never been a problem before. Work wise she was able to go back to normal including jumping. I hope this reply helps.
 
Hi
This happened to my mare about 18 months ago

In answer to your questions :-

1. No she wasn't lame, but the leg was swollen
2. She was on box rest for about 15 weeks I think
3. Yes she started with the usual walking first. Iseem to remember that the vet recommended 1 week's walking for every 1 month she had been off ?
4. She came back as good as new ! No problems at the time or since

Hope this helps
x
 
The father of a friend of mine, who is a very eminent vet, once said to me that the splint bone was invented to provide vets with income... i.e. they serve no purpose and as long as they heal without complications the horse will be as good as new. So prognosis is good! My ex-share also broke one when kicked and he was absolutely fine afterwards.
 
Believe it or not I have had two horses do this. The first my TB x NF mare aged 14 was kicked and the vet pulled part of the bone out through the wound. She was bandaged heavily for two weeks but when they came off was completely sound and started walking straight away and never had any more problems.

The second was a 7 yo TB and he was very lame. On x ray the break showed and he was (I think) just rested for several weeks before being x rayed again. The break actually looked worse at this point but the vet said it was due to the body cleaning up the bone and he didn't need op. I think he was off for about 6 weeks and had a longer return to work. He also made a full recovery to previous levels of work (eventing in his case - all rc activities in the case of the first one)
 
I know 2 horses that were kicked and fractured their splint bones.
The first was a young mare, quite bad fracture and took months to come sound after op, but is fine now.
The other was an elderly mare, was so lame she was on 3 legs. She had it removed and was sound within 2/3 weeks.
 
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My horse is on box rest/restricted turn out the mo for a fractured splint bone and it the bl@@dy 2nd time she has done it!! Gahh horses eh!!

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Really sorry to hear that.

When did she do it and what has your vet said? How long did everything take the first time? Was she lame?
 
Yep my horse fractured her splint bone a few months ago. She had an operation to remove part of the splint bone. She was on box rest for 2 weeks after the op. She then went straight back out in the field and I started ridden walking work with her. Two weeks of walking, then introduced trot work. The vet said to me within 4 weeks she should be back in full work after the box rest. I gave it 6 weeks just to be cautious, but never had any problems since. I can't believe what a speedy recovery she made. The vet said I could've box rested her for 3 months, but there was no guarantee it would heal and she may have to have the op anyway. As I like to compete she had the op asap.
 
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