Fractured pedal bone, 2 options, neither good :-( pls help

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Martop

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My TB has fractured his pedal bone, (no idea how, he was turned out in the field at the time). It is not a simple fracture as it is frayed and goes all the way into the coffin joint. When my vet first saw this he didn't really think the prognosis was any good but wanted to speak to an expert about it.
Well he's done this and even thought the expert has not looked at the x-rays, he's suggested we could 'try' and treat it. That treatment would be a cast on the hoof for 4 weeks, followed by a bar shoe or similar and six months COMPLETE box rest, ie, not even moving from one stable to another to muck out.

My dilemma is that my boy will not cope well with that amount of box rest, he's already dropped loads of weight and is off his food, I suspect partially because of the pain. He's such a lovely lad but worries inwardly.

I'm seriously questioning whether i can put him through all this with only a 50/50 chance of him coming sound. The other complication that could arise is that he could develop osteoarthritis because the fracture goes into the joint, not to mention all other things associated with long term box rest.

You may think this sounds harsh, but I have had 2 other horses that have had long periods of box rest and both ended up being pts at the end of this and I felt awful that their last few months were spent couped up and in pain.

I know ultimately its my decision but any advice or thoughts would be appreciated, i'm in utter tutmoil over this, thank you.
 
I would have him put to sleep. I don't think it is fair on either him or you to do anything else.

Has the vet told you that there is a good possibility that he will develop untreatable laminitis in the other foot due to not being able to weight bear properly for an extended period on the broken one?
 
How would he cope with 6 months box rest? Is he happy in a box? I know some horses who would be bored but would cope . I know others who would become horribly depressed.

Horses have no concept of the future, only the 'now'. He will not understand that it's for his own good, only that he's in pain and stuck in a box for what seems like the rest of his life.

The fact that there's only a slim chance of complete recovery would sway me towards having him PTS. If he was going to fit and happy later then I would concider it, but not for something that is quite likely to spend 6 boring, depressing months in a box only to be PTS at the end of it.

Would it be possibly for him to have some time outside later on (i.e month 3 onwards) if he had a new cast on and was sedated. Even getting once or twice a week would break up his boxrest.
 
ooh no he hasn't mentioned laminitis but its something i wondered about. He's coming back on Monday to discuss further so its another question I can ask.

I don't think he'll cope well to be honest which is why its not straightforward for me. He won't be allowed out after 3 months, its 6 months on almost complete imobility.

Thank you for your honesty, its much appreciated.
 
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Hi, just read this and would have to say, we have had a lovely mare that had the same injury in the field, it was not affecting the coffin joint, but she had nearly 18 months off, was put in foal, then slowly brought back into work, she is now doing novice dressage tests - medium trot etc with no problems, so perhaps don't give up on your horse too soon.
 
My horse doesn't have the same problem but was given 50% chance of survival (ddft and infected navicular bursa and tendon) eta didn't think he would make the box rest as horse is stressy and reliant on my mare he is also very hard to handle on the ground!well he was an absolute saint and many times I honestly didn't think he was going to make it and nor did my vet.but watching him walk across the field this morning almost sound is worth all the stress!
You may have already tried it but a stable mirror helped my boy so much and reduced his stressing over my mare going out! It's a very difficult decision and I'm happy for my boy to be retired but he has come on more than I was told to expect (.I thought he would always be 2/10 lame)
Only you know your horse and I'm sure whatever decision you make will be the right one!
 
You know your horse better than anyone and how he would cope but could you cope again with possible PTS after all your hard work and the expense if it doesn't work?
Whatever you do, as long as you do it with the horse's well being as the priority, you will have done your very best; he couldn't ask more from you. Hugs, it's never easy being in this situation; I had to make the same decision and I regret it to this day but it was the right one for my horse so I can't ever regret that even though it still hurts me to wish I could have saved him.
 
The worst part of this is the involvement of the joint surface which really effects the healing and future prognosis.

My 29yr old fractured a hind pedal bone earlier this year. X-rays show it is split in 2 but 'appears' to stop short of the joint surface - although in reality it probably doesn't. I made a choice to do nothing at all. At her age (with cushings too), I wasn;t going to box rest her, so she has continued to be turned out in the field. She has had bute to keep her comfortable, and now 3-4 months on, she is on a small amount of bute and happily charges around the field with her friends. Sometimes she carries her foot doing this, other times not. At walk she is pretty much sound, but lame at trot.

The way I see it, as long as she is moving about and keeping her weight up I'll leave her be. I'm not under illusion that she'll last for ever, and if she looses weight or becomes uncomfartable, I'll let her go.

OP, you have to make a decsion based on you and your horse. I keep my guys at home, and this girlie has been a pet for many years already. Good luck.
 
Is there any way you can pay someone else to look after your box resting horse for a week or so and have a rest? It can be very difficult to think clearly at times like this. And after a little 'time off' you may be able to see things more clearly and make a descision you can be happy with.

With regards to easing box rest, would your horse be happy in an outdoor pen, of stable or slightly larger size? eg 20ftx20ft? They don't have to be inside to be boxresting!! This could be better or worse for some horses. Whether or not you could arrange this would depend upon your circumstances and how/where you keep your horse. Also my horse was much happier and more settled with a view of a brick wall!! Not an outside view!! Bizarre creature. She also only displayed 'stress' at the times I was there!!

The possibility of laminitis in the other foot can be limited by applying frog supports to the opposite foot and keeping the horse on a deep shavings bed (right to the door) for support.
 
Re: Pedal bone fracture-any experience?
My mare fractured her nearside hind pedal bone in Aug 08, she did it in the field, bucked and kicked the metal water tank, was on three legs in an instant, vet came, suspected pedal bone fracture, i took her to the practice that afternoon for xray's and sure enough was a massive wide fracture, she did a proper job...

9 months of complete box rest (she stressed at first but soon calmed down) heart bar shoes, magnesium, comfrey and she was deemed sound in May 09 but after all the box rest she came out with locking stifles so sent her to a rehabilitation centre for 6 weeks with swimming, hydrotherapy, horse walker & individual turnout.

She is probably still 1/10th lame on a hard surface & is quite weak behind but she is just my little hacking buddy & copes well with that, no small circles/dressage moves or jumping, just straight lines. I think you have to look at what to do with the horse long term, maybe try the boxrest for a while and see how things go?

I do expect she will be arthritic on her hinds in the future as she is still slightly weak behind, but i hope to keep her sound as long as possible.

Hope your horse is ok.
 
What you've got to think about is what will he be like after the injury has healed, if it does. ie will he ever be sound again and if so what will he be able to do etc. and what sort or knock on effect will possible unsoundness have.

Only you know your horse and with such an injury I know what I would do.
 
Thank you everyone, vet coming this morning, I keep swaying from one decision to the other, hardly slept last night and am an emotional wreck. Can't bear to say goodbye but neither can I bear to coup him up for such a long time if there's not much hope of soundness at the end. :-(:
 
sorry not to be able to give any wonderful advice..........in suitations like this i always feel you should go with your gut instinct, you know your horse and the suituation, we on the forum don't, take advice from us yes and listen to others ideas/previous experiences, but at the end of the day it is a decision for you and your vet and a second opinion.
hugs
 
Beware of the horse loading weight on to the other leg, this can cause the pedal bone to fully rotate (laminitis) from the excess weight on it.
Refer to 'Barbaro', the racehorse's, story for an example of this.
 
I could only put a horse through that amount of box rest if there was a really good chance of him returning to a full fitness/ life that doesn't include pain, i would still make the same decision again to have my boy pts, as knew he wouldn't be happy unless he was in full fitness doing what he loved, although i miss him loads
 
Best of luck with your decision. I am having my mare PTS this week as I can't put her though the up to two years of box rest the vet has recommended - different porblem. Its hard.
 
Sorry to hear that Clodagh :-( thank you all again, after a lengthy chat with vet I have decided I should at least give him a chance, but if he really doesn't seem to be coping with the box rest I will have to think again. Must admit, still not sure I've made the right decision but feel a bit less stressed now that I have. Vet thinks his chances of full recovery are good as long as I stick to the plan.
 
I knew a foal whos dam stod on him and broke his pedal bone bad, he was boxed rested for a few months by the time he was 3 he was broken and ridden away and you would of never know he had a problem the only thing was he had a boxed foot.
 
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