Cut on knee that won't heal!

[tazzy69]

Our pony was kicked on his front leg on the side of his knee just after Christmas. Lots of blood and was very painful to walk, dragging his leg. The cut was about 1 and a half centimeters with clean edges and apparantly not very deep. Vet came out, cleaned and bandaged and gave but and antibiotics. Recommended box rest for a few weeks with walks several times a day. Pony has never been in a stable and was very scared when we put him in one so we penned off a section of the field, about the size of a large stable. We changed the bandage after a few days, cold hosed, replaced the bandage. A week or so after the injury, one of the other horses in the field broke through the electric fence to get to our pony (they are great pals!). OUr pony ran out into the field and spend ten minutes galloping flat out round the field before we caught him. The wound had come open again, with just a trickle of blood down the leg. I cold hosed and bandaged again. After a couple of weeks he went back into the main part of the field and seemed to be doing well. Finished his bute and was sound. The leg seemed to be healing but there was a bit of heat and some swelling was still there. Another week went by and the wound came open again and there was a tiny amound of blood and pus trickled out. Vet came out again and gave us more antibiotics, saying there may have been an abcess developed in the injury. I put some magnesium sulphate on the wound to draw out any pus that was in there, then put honey on until it healed. A couple of weeks later it happened again so I repeated the magnesium sulphate and honey. 3 days ago, just when I thought things had finally resolved, I got a call from one of the other owners to say it had come open again. I didn't see it when it happened and by the time I got to the field late afternoon it had dried up. I cleaned it up, removed a tiny scab and put loads of honey on. There was no heat in the knee but it is still a wee bit swollen. The pony has been getting ridden for a few weeks now and is 100% sound. He is my daughters pony and she has been on long hacks, worked him in the school with lots of canter work, popped him over a few small jumps and he the knee hasn't been an issue at all. He races round the field like a loon with his pals and stands like an angel to have the knee cleaned up, so I don't think it is bothering him at all. I rang the vet yesterday who didn't seem overly concerned. He said the wound is in an awkward place to heal as it's right over the part where the knee bends. It is about half the size it was originally. Our dentist came a few weeks ago. He is very knowledgable about all things horsey and he had a good look and feel and didn't have any concerns.

My question is, what can I do to help the wound close over once and for all?

I think the wound may get itchy as it's healing as that one knee in particular seems to be muddier than the other, as if he's rubbing it to try to relieve the itch. I have bought some aloe vera gel to start rubbing on once it's healed over this time. The vet has also sent me some Filtabac cream to apply but not sure what that's for!

I have had a few coments that I should be getting it x-rayed to see if there is something more sinister going on which is quite scary.

Any advice?

 

[Maesfen]

It does make you wonder if something is floating around in there as a wound like that, while slow to heal because of the movement, shouldn't be taking as long as it is especially if he is otherwise a healthy pony so no reason for the skin to not heal. I would be very inclined for an x-ray just to be on the safe side.

 

[Louby]

Afraid I agree.
Totally different but when my horse fractured his leg, the xrays shown fragments of bone arround the area. I was advised most would dissolve but one may cause a problem and need to be removed. It did and it abcessed and one day 'erupted'. Vet said to leave a bit longer as it may have come out with the pus, yuk. But it wouldnt heal and filled again and erupted again, so he was xrayed again, bone chip still there and under sedation it was removed. He had no further problems.
Good luck, I hope you get to the bottom of it.

 

[lizzi2]

My horse had a long-to-heal leg injury once - in the end she had to go to the vet hospital to have intravenous anti-biotics & medication. If there's swelling still, it could indicate there's some sort of infection (even if minor). Would get the vet out to have a look.
I also used Aloe Vera gel (liquid gel drink) added to the feed, to support my horse's immune system, gave Bee Propolis tablets (natural antibiotic) as well as the Aloe Vera gelly applied to the skin - am sure this all helped speed up her recovery, (and only a very minor scar now!).