Fractured splint bone

mollywestern

mollywestern

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Has anyone had any experience of there horse fracturing their splint bone? My mare was kicked and has fractured her splint bone quite badly.

The vet has said she needs a month box rest then more x-rays and if it hasn't started to heal then surgery.

Does anyone have any experience with this? How well did it heal? Was there need for surgery?
 
I have had two, one open wound which required an op to remove fragments, it healed fully and the horse continued to lead a totally normal life, the second was, and still is, more problematic it was not diagnosed early, then probably became displaced as in hand walking was started, he then had an op to remove the end which went well but other issues were missed from the original accident so nearly 2 years later he is still in rehab but the splint fracture was probably the least of his problems in hindsight.
They usually are not a problem if found early and treated appropriately, sadly mine was not picked up as the vet wouldn't xray when asked, if yours has to go for surgery the prognosis is usually excellent as they do not weight bear on the splint bone so recovery is fairly straightforward, mine was done standing so less risk of injury during the op, the wound was small, it healed very well and has left a small but insignificant scar.
 
mollywestern said:
Has anyone had any experience of there horse fracturing their splint bone? My mare was kicked and has fractured her splint bone quite badly.

The vet has said she needs a month box rest then more x-rays and if it hasn't started to heal then surgery.

Does anyone have any experience with this? How well did it heal? Was there need for surgery?
Click to expand...

yes my mare got kicked, splint bone into 19 pieces, it remained slightly swollen it caused no problems later in life but I did put her on joint supplement

Yes she did have surgery to remove the bone fragments
 
Our mare was kicked and had five fractures to her splint bone in October 2010, we went down the bandaging/resting route. It took about 4/5 months and she has been sound ever since with no residual problems. We were given the opportunity to have the operation to remove the broken pieces, but decided against it.
 
Yes my pony had this two years ago - misdiagnosed so had two weeks where he was running round field and still being ridden in walk to get the swelling down - then after no improvement vet x rayed and he had a fractured splint bone.

He had 10 weeks box rest followed by two weeks of going on the horse walker twice a day and then individual turnout gradually built up - took about 7 months to be back in normal work again. He did not have the operation he just had the big bandage.

Vet said he would pass a 5 stage vetting and you would never know it had happened.

This is what the injury looked like



Big bandage

 
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I had one, she had several pieces ,seven I think, removed under a GA she had twelve weeks box rest and returned to full work until the next disaster that was a very unlucky horse .
 
Sorry photo of big bandage now included! Vet actually said to me that if you horses breaks a bone this is the one to break as it will normally heal well.

 
Mine also had a field kick leaving an open wound and broken splint bone. He was diagnosed straight away and had 16 weeks box rest (never again!) as it was a a nasty break but no need for surgery. He then just slowly went back into work and has never had any problems from it, that was 5 years ago. He is just left with a tiny lump which you can hardly feel now. Best wishes for a similar outcome with yours.
 
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