Can a kick cause a splint? Or is just bruising? I could cry

[Abi90]

As some of you will know Rosie was involved in a scrap last week and she got kicked. Had the vet out and leg was swollen from fetlock to stifle and she was given antibiotics and Bute for cellulitis. All of the swelling has gone down and she looks completely sound (and I’m reasonable at spotting hind limb lameness now after last year) but she’s been left with a bump on her cannon bone.

It doesn’t feel hot, it’s quite squidgy, like a bruise on your shin would be but despite looking sound after riding for 20 minutes today she didn’t seem happy. I’m still cold hosing with the intention of doing so until it goes down but now wondering if I need a vet back out for a second look or whether I should just rest and keep hosing for now. I’m not overly experienced with injuries like this.

It’s all complicated by the fact I move house by 200 miles next week and starting treatment at a vets here now if it’s something more sinister is going to be difficult if she then moves practise.

I have a feeling it’s just bruising but I could honestly cry as I spent so long last year nursing her back to health! In fact I have cried 😢

Some photos, for context it was twice this size:

 

[Auslander]

It's not a splint, as it's nowhere near the splint bone - but it could be bone related. Bone bruises take ages to resolve.

 

[AandK]

It's not a splint, as it's nowhere near the splint bone - but it could be bone related. Bone bruises take ages to resolve.

Agree with this, or bruising to the tendon?

 

[stormox]

I think it would be worth getting the vet. It definately isnt a splint . I had a horse kicked on the hind cannon, only a slight cut, healed after a week. Rode out, 1st canter the leg snapped at that point, it was a star fracture that gave way under pressure.
It would definately be a good idea to get the vet, he might suggest an x-ray.

 

[ihatework]

It’s most likely bruising/soft tissue that will resolve with rest and cold hosing. But if it were mine I’d take a quick X-ray to be sure.

 

[shortstuff99]

My old mare took a kick to the hind leg and ended up with a permanent lump on the bone. It has never done anything just a bit ugly. Over time it has gone down a bit, sometimes when bones get bruised the bruise calcifies and it ends up a lump. My forehead also has one.

 

[Abi90]

Oh good. Now I really do want to cry 😢

 

[Abi90]

My old mare took a kick to the hind leg and ended up with a permanent lump on the bone. It has never done anything just a bit ugly. Over time it has gone down a bit, sometimes when bones get bruised the bruise calcifies and it ends up a lump. My forehead also has one.

She has a lump that looks like a splint on her front leg from a cut and a bruise a while ago so she is prone to lumps

 

[Red-1]

If it is warm and reducing then I would not be too upset, but nor would I put her into work other than walk work until it went down. It could be anything from a bruised tendon to bruised bone. If it took a long time or did not completely resolve then I would X ray just to make sure.

If she was lame and X ray was fine, I would also scan.

Do bear in mind that on bony areas any swelling looks worse than a similar sized one would look in a fleshy area. Most likely it is fine and will reduce without a problem in time, but a simple X ray is not expensive, nor is a scan, and it would put your mind at rest.

 

[Abi90]

Have spoken to the vet and sent him photos, he said he is not concerned at this point as it is mostly likely bruising and as it’s going down. He said there is a small possibility it could be a bone chip but if it starts to ooze or pus to call him back as that is it working it’s way out.

He said as she is sound then just to keep cold hosing and it light work until it goes down. He also said it may always have a bump.

Red-1, I think you are right, it looks worse as it is on a bone

 

[SEL]

BTW my mum still has bumps on her shins from playing hockey 50 years ago without shinpads! Bone bruises are painful and hang around.

You've had a real run of bad luck - keeping everything crossed that the big move goes well ☺

 

[Abi90]

BTW my mum still has bumps on her shins from playing hockey 50 years ago without shinpads! Bone bruises are painful and hang around.

You've had a real run of bad luck - keeping everything crossed that the big move goes well ☺

I hadn’t been that concerned tbh and she’d been fine all week in walk and a bit of trot so thought go back to mostly normal today and she was fine for a good half hour then swished her tail lots and did something weird with that leg (just caught sight of it in the mirror) so I got off expecting it to have blown up again or be hot and her to walk off lame... but no, fine. She’s very sensitive and a bit pathetic tbh

But will carry on cold hosing and keep in walk until it’s gone or as near to gone as it will be. Husband says I’ve been melodramatic and it looks much better than last week, it’s hard when you don’t see it every day!

Thank you for your good wishes

 

[TheMule]

I would absolutely have that x-rayed, just for peace of mind

 

[Fiona]

My Welsh cob had one of these on his front cannon bone after he kicked a gate...

It was soft at first, then hardened, he was lame about three weeks I think...

The bony lump eventually reduced over a couple of years.

Fiona

 

[Abi90]

My Welsh cob had one of these on his front cannon bone after he kicked a gate...

It was soft at first, then hardened, he was lame about three weeks I think...

The bony lump eventually reduced over a couple of years.

Fiona

It was soft, now it says harder but firm and a tad squidgey! Vet is not concerned as she’s not at all lame really

 

[Fiona]

Sounds a lot like Ben's, my vet explained it as damage to the periosteum/bone surface.

Fiona

 

[Goldenstar]

I would worry as well but it’s likely that’s ‘ just ‘ an inflammation of the periosteum.

 

[Abi90]

I would worry as well but it’s likely that’s ‘ just ‘ an inflammation of the periosteum.

I had to google periosteum. At least she is sound and the cellulitis has long gone! Thank goodness as she is a terrible patient

 

[Goldenstar]

Just keep watching and hosing it any sniff of lameness stable her and get the vet

 

[eggs]

One of my horses was kicked on his shoulder some years ago which gave him a small cut. However he was lame for 3 months and was x-rayed as my vet was concerned that there could be a fracture. Turned out to be a broadly bruised bone which took some time to resolve itself.

 

[JFTDWS]

One of mine had a partial fracture which presented similarly after a kick - small cut, small lump developed, completely sound but not overly happy to work, then dog lame the following day.

On the plus side, this was 8 years ago, and he's been in near enough constant work of all sorts since and is a pretty sound and happy chap.

 

[honetpot]

It depends what you call a splint. When a bone is injured the bone thickens in the area, and form a callous, to strengthen the bone in the injured or weakened area. There can also be inflamation and swelling of the soft tissues and it there is a cut. infection. After a time the bone should remodel and the callous is reabsorbed. Unfortuately because the horse has so little covering of muscle and fat on the legs they have not a lot to protect the bone .My youngster got kicked a year ago and I am still waiting...... Its never been lame, but it even when it was first happened.

 

[Abi90]

Thanks everyone. Just to reassure you all a vet did examine this horse when she first injured herself and I spoke to him again yesterday and he felt from his initial examination plus my description that, for the time being, he is not concerned.

Although being a worrier that obviously has not helped 😂 I’ve been worried all night that I’m going to arrive to a shattered leg however logically that probably has not happened

 

[Abi90]

Seems absolutely fine today still and still completely sound. I have a feeling it’s a bruise to the tendon as the swelling seems to move with the tendon rather than be static. I have a feeling it’s going to go down a bit more then calcify and leave a permanent lump.

She already has a huge lump on her front cannon bone from a cut 2 years ago so this won’t damage her showing career further

 

[Pearlsasinger]

BTW my mum still has bumps on her shins from playing hockey 50 years ago without shinpads! Bone bruises are painful and hang around.
Read more at https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/...ising-i-could-cry.778003/#1sMhygxFHqIhd5h2.99


Me too!

When I read your post, I thought 'shinpads! Do they have shinpads for playing hockey? Nobody ever offered me any!' I also have a lump on my leg where I fell over a cardboard box about 20 years ago.
Neither of those lumps have ever stopped me doing anything.

OP, I wouldn't worry too much yet, it could still go down.

 

[Abi90]

BTW my mum still has bumps on her shins from playing hockey 50 years ago without shinpads! Bone bruises are painful and hang around.
Read more at https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/...ising-i-could-cry.778003/#1sMhygxFHqIhd5h2.99


Me too!

When I read your post, I thought 'shinpads! Do they have shinpads for playing hockey? Nobody ever offered me any!' I also have a lump on my leg where I fell over a cardboard box about 20 years ago.
Neither of those lumps have ever stopped me doing anything.

OP, I wouldn't worry too much yet, it could still go down.

Tbh I don’t mind if the lump stays as long as she stays sound with it. It’s not that unsightly! What a week, poor horse!

 

[Red-1]

BTW my mum still has bumps on her shins from playing hockey 50 years ago without shinpads! Bone bruises are painful and hang around.
Read more at https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/...ising-i-could-cry.778003/#1sMhygxFHqIhd5h2.99


Me too!

When I read your post, I thought 'shinpads! Do they have shinpads for playing hockey? Nobody ever offered me any!' I also have a lump on my leg where I fell over a cardboard box about 20 years ago.
Neither of those lumps have ever stopped me doing anything.

OP, I wouldn't worry too much yet, it could still go down.

When I was at school (many years ago) we had a wicked game called Shinty. It was like hockey, but with cheaper sticks, and you were allowed, nay - encouraged, to belt the hell out of opponents' shins in order to get the ball.

I am not surprised that I have not heard of the game since!