Fractured Tibia

[Lucyad]

My horse is currently in horspital with a fractured tibia, and after searching and reading various previous posts, I thought I should start a thread for any advice anyone can give, and/or stories of similar circumstances.

My horse was kicked on his right hind, on his inner thigh, last Saturday. He had a small wound and swelling. Vet came out and gave him IV bute and IM antibiotic, but on examination thought it was just bruised as felt very stable. We kept him on box and small outside area rest (small lane). He wouldn't eat the bute or antibiotics so I continued with IM antibiotics and syringed bute with molasses.

He was checked by the vet on Monday, and seemed to be improving slightly (from non weight bearing to slight weight bearing). Wound healing well. Unfortunately he then went downhill and went to hospital yesterday for xrays, in a full support bandage that the vet did. Vet suspected a fractured splint bone (next to tibia).

Unfortunately it turned out his tibia is fractured. It has not displaced at all - fracture line looks vertical / diagonal rather than horizontal splitting bone in two. He is staying in hospital for at least 1 week so they can manage his pain more effectively. I am tempted to speak to them about keeping him for longer as the risk time for displacement will be travelling home. He is cross tied on an overhead zip wore so he can move slightly back and forward but nor round in circles or lie down. I will set up a similar system at home for an estimated 6 weeks cross tied box rest they suggest just now.

He is not great being stabled as is only used to being in at night, but I guess will get used to it. He does have bone spavin in both hocks (worse in his affected hind), which will probably get worse due to the stabling, but we can deal with that afterwards. He is usually on Cosequin and Turmeric for this - should I keep giving him these?

Any similar experiences or advice would be much appreciated. it is horrible seeing him in so much pain and so miserable.

 

[applecart14]

My horse is currently in horspital with a fractured tibia, and after searching and reading various previous posts, I thought I should start a thread for any advice anyone can give, and/or stories of similar circumstances.

My horse was kicked on his right hind, on his inner thigh, last Saturday. He had a small wound and swelling. Vet came out and gave him IV bute and IM antibiotic, but on examination thought it was just bruised as felt very stable. We kept him on box and small outside area rest (small lane). He wouldn't eat the bute or antibiotics so I continued with IM antibiotics and syringed bute with molasses.

He was checked by the vet on Monday, and seemed to be improving slightly (from non weight bearing to slight weight bearing). Wound healing well. Unfortunately he then went downhill and went to hospital yesterday for xrays, in a full support bandage that the vet did. Vet suspected a fractured splint bone (next to tibia).

Unfortunately it turned out his tibia is fractured. It has not displaced at all - fracture line looks vertical / diagonal rather than horizontal splitting bone in two. He is staying in hospital for at least 1 week so they can manage his pain more effectively. I am tempted to speak to them about keeping him for longer as the risk time for displacement will be travelling home. He is cross tied on an overhead zip wore so he can move slightly back and forward but nor round in circles or lie down. I will set up a similar system at home for an estimated 6 weeks cross tied box rest they suggest just now.

He is not great being stabled as is only used to being in at night, but I guess will get used to it. He does have bone spavin in both hocks (worse in his affected hind), which will probably get worse due to the stabling, but we can deal with that afterwards. He is usually on Cosequin and Turmeric for this - should I keep giving him these?

Any similar experiences or advice would be much appreciated. it is horrible seeing him in so much pain and so miserable.

Firstly I would ask about getting his hocks fused with ethanol. This is a simple procedure that would take away the problems with the spavin. If you are not careful you will end up overloading the opposite hind leg from the fracture which will cause him pain due to his spavin. Whether this procedure is feasible in his present situation is something your vet would have to decide. Its quite a successful procedure and my horse was fused in March 2012, recent xrays have shown really good fusion. The pain from the spavin is taken away straight away, but the fusion can take up to 18 months to carry out. Not all horses can benefit from this - it depends on the layout of their particular joint space, which is determined with contrast dye prior to the application of the ethanol (which is pure alcohol).

Personally I would ask them to keep him in the hospital for as long as possible. Your insurance may cover hospitalisation costs, but if they do not it might be worth thinking about you paying them if they are happy to keep him in. However, I'm not sure if they would rather discharge to free up another 'bed' so to speak.

If it were my horse I'd want them to have the 'problem' for as long as possible. I really don't feel that cross tying a horse in a stable is for the faint hearted and I think I would find it quite hard to cope with.

I say this because I lost a horse with a compound fracture of the tibia in 2004. He was only five at the time and he broke it playing in the field. It was witnessed by a livery trying to catch her horse so Miki was 'lucky' in the respect that help was got for him immediately and he was put down within about 25 minutes of the accident taking place. Miki had his whole life ahead of him, and although he wasn't the horse for me and I was going to sell him the following year, it was heartbreaking that we lost him in such sad circumstances. The situation was made worse by the vet that had to have too attemps to shoot him to pts and lied to me about it afterwards (was not present at time) and the fact that the vet felt he had been kicked prior to the injury by (we found out eventually) a rogue horse who my next horse was blamed for hurting fellow livery horses!!

I would also say that a previous horse that I owned and was very dear to me lacerated his fetlock joint on a fun ride in 1999, from one side to the other severing two tendons and requiring a full plaster cast. He did not tolerate the plaster cast at all well (most horses I was told don't) and he kept getting heel rubs so they kept removing the cast to reset it. In all he had three GA's at the age of 14 to reset the cast and the fourth time he was lame after the third cast they decided to remove it under standing sedation and he stretched his leg out and opened the slight healing to the joint up and he had to be pts.

So reading about your boy I am glad he hasn't had a cast (although things may have improved since 1999 when my boy had his injury).
I can't really say much more than what I have said, and I hope that this has a positive ending for you. Very best wishes xx

 

[Brightbay]

So impressed with the zip wire idea - really much better than the restrictive cross ties they used to do. I know he will find it hard, being a bit of an outdoor boy, but if he has his pony for company and plenty of peace and quiet, I am sure he will heal well and quickly (just thought - maybe see if you can feed some stuff that promotes good healing and bone knitting? Making sure he has plenty of zinc in diet etc. - and maybe comfrey? )

 

[AnShanDan]

If it is just the fracture and it is stable, there may be a good chance of it healing fully, given time and immobilisation.

I had a horse kept on cross ties at the vet school for 4 weeks for a chip type fracture of a tibia. I'd have struggled to do it at home tbh. They can monitor them 24/7 and give sedalin etc. as necessary. Not to mention they often colic during the cross tying. She didn't love it but she got through it and I got her home, only to find that the ligament attached to the chip was pulling it away and she was operated on successfully.

I'd find out if I could leave the horse at the hospital as long as poss. Good luck.

 

[applecart14]

If it is just the fracture and it is stable, there may be a good chance of it healing fully, given time and immobilisation.

I had a horse kept on cross ties at the vet school for 4 weeks for a chip type fracture of a tibia. I'd have struggled to do it at home tbh. They can monitor them 24/7 and give sedalin etc. as necessary. Not to mention they often colic during the cross tying. She didn't love it but she got through it and I got her home, only to find that the ligament attached to the chip was pulling it away and she was operated on successfully.

I'd find out if I could leave the horse at the hospital as long as poss. Good luck.

There is a really good article in this months Horse and Rider magazine showing various fractures with photos of the xrays. Really interesting reading and a lot more positivity than previously regarding fracture mending and recovery.

 

[Lucyad]

Thanks everyone for your input.

He is now staying in horsepital for the 6 weeks cross tied period at least - then we will re-asses. He is settled there and is getting on well.

He has no cast - the fracture is stable. His wound is healing well. No ligaments, tendons or anything else are involved so they seem to think that he has a good chance of full recovery as long as he stands nicely, which he is doing so far. Just time (and lots of money!).

Would be amazing if he gets through this with no ongoing problems - but from what I am reading it seems that there is a reasonable chance of this - fingers crossed.

 

[applecart14]

Oh I wish you all the luck hun. Thats brilliant news, especially that they ahve agreed to keep him there for the healing time and you won't have the stress of dealing with that. I don't think I could cope with that myself. I wouldn't mind all the time spent nursing and chatting and brushing and stuff, but it would be the worry about whether he would lie down, or kick the door, or get loose or something.

I am sure that wont happen at a hospital as he would be monitored 24/7.

 

[Lucyad]

Anyone else had experience of this type of injury? Would love to hear of any other stories (particularly ones with happy endings, of course).

 

[leflynn]

My horse suffered a fractured radius twice from a kick (twice) and is back almost in full work. I think I was very lucky as we agreed he couldn't be cross tied as the risk of him doing worse injury was greater so he was kept on box rest (twice for 3-4 months each time). I used to worry a great deal when he started to get more active as it started to heal - he would bronc and rear and had managed to smash a couple of light fittings in the process. He would also roll towards the end of the healing time (I couldn't watch). I used ultrasound the 2nd time around to be doubly sure along with comfry oil and MSM supplements in his diet (oil was put on his leg, no idea if any of it made a difference tbh).

Nothing else was injured at the time and the fracture was stable enough not to need surgery/splint etc (huge relief) and his leg seems to be grand *touches wood* He did become a nightmare on box rest but the poor lamb had a catalogue of injuries (not relating to this, pulled ligament prior, 2 x kicks/fractures, then a pinged tendon) so he had spent an swful lot of time on box rest and even the high dose of valerian wasn't really working towards the end, zylkene did help a little too thankfully!

Good luck

 

[Lucyad]

What terrible bad luck to have 2 fractures on separate occasions! And all the other injuries as well. My horse is being very well behaved so far, thank god. I think that it helps that he is in horsepital so has lots to see all the time, and doesn't know how to escape 9or where to escape to!). I can foresee things getting more difficult when he comes home, though that will be after the cross tied period.

Glad your horse has recovered so well!

 

[leflynn]

What terrible bad luck to have 2 fractures on separate occasions! And all the other injuries as well. My horse is being very well behaved so far, thank god. I think that it helps that he is in horsepital so has lots to see all the time, and doesn't know how to escape 9or where to escape to!). I can foresee things getting more difficult when he comes home, though that will be after the cross tied period.

Glad your horse has recovered so well!

There was only 8 days between the 2 kicks too! Calmer and lots of things to do and look at are the best things to occupy them whilst stuck in, plenty of advice on here. Calmer for you too if you feel nervous - I know I had a tot of sloe gin and he had sedation before his first turn out!

 

[MurphysMinder]

Our pony had a star fracture of her tibia after being kicked. She was cross tied, in a Robert Jones bandage. It was a bit of a nightmare at first because she was out on loan and kept on a livery yard with not the best veterinary care. With my own vets approval we travelled her home after a couple of weeks (with me in the trailer with her to make sure she as okay) and she did a further 4 weeks cross tied. She did get mild colic once, and was on ever increasing doses of ACP to keep her calm but she is a real stress head. She returned to full work including jumping, although she is now retired. This was around 10 years ago, she is now 25 and still absolutely sound. Good luck, I hope your horse makes a full recovery.

 

[Lucyad]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. My horse is still cross tied in horsepital. We had a set back last week, as the wound was not healing, they re-xrayed, and there was infection and possibly bony fragments dying off preventing any healing. The wound was flushed - they could not operate to remove them as the fracture would be likely to destabilise coming round from general anaesthetic. He is back on IV painkillers and antibiotics.

He is looking brighter now, and the wound seems finally to be healing. The vets are applying manuka honey.

He is eating and drinking well, and seems happy in himself, though obviously his leg in uncomfortable and he is still not really bearing weight on it. He is getting re x-rayed next week - fingers crossed it will have started to heal. From what the vets have said the 6 weeks they quoted for cross tying seems only to start from it starting to heal, so now the horsepital stay looks to be extended.

 

[Lucyad]

A wee update on my broken horse. Over the last month there have been more downs than ups - at one point I even spoke to the vets about putting him out of his misery, as they were struggling to balance side effects and pain relief of different medications. However over the last couple of weeks he has come on really well, and on Monday his cross ties are coming off for good. Xrays show that it is healing well. He might even get home next weekend (to another month of box rest).

It turned out that the fracture was just a tiny fraction off being a catastrophic break, so he was incredibly lucky that it all held together, and also that he hasn't suffered any laminitis, colic or pneumonia during the cross tied period. The main problem has just been falling protein levels and odemas, which are subsiding already.

 

[dianchi]

Brilliant news, fingers x that he continues to improve for you.

 

[sueonmull]

About 6 years ago a friend of mine had a 9yo which they had to keep cross tied for 8 weeks due to a broken leg. Did have some residual ligament damage but she got over that too. She managed OK in the stable, just needed a continuous supply of hay to keep her settled. Might be worth looking into calming supplements so you have something in hand if needs be. Good luck and hope you have a happy ending too.

 

[Lucyad]

Good news, my horse is getting home tomorrow. He has started walking in hand, and is walking out remarkably well. I have booked him into a local equestrian centre for his 1 month of box rest so he will have company, and more going on to keep him occupied. Hope he likes it!

 

[millsandboon]

Great news. Keep coming with the updates

 

[sueonmull]

Really pleased, hope everything progresses well.

 

[mickey12345]

Hi Hope your horse is doing OK.
We had the same thing 2 years ago. Horse was kicked in field and after 10 days and x rays at home was sent to Horsepital for a bone scan where a spiral fracture of the Tibia was found. It was touch and go as the fracture was so bad and he was only cross tied for 2 weeks as he kept breaking his head collar. We decided to let him lay down and he stayed in Horsepital for 7 weeks . Then he came home for a further 2 months of box rest with walking in hand. They do get used to box rest.
Glad to say he is now fine and even though he was 22 when it happened he coped really well and is still being ridden at nearly 25. It takes a lot of hard work but is well worth it in the end. Hope your horse continues to improve and if there is anything you want to know just ask.

 

[Lucyad]

Seeing as the forum is working again, I thought I would post an update on my horse who fractured his tibia back in September last year. He has been in light work for a few months now - took a real setback with his front feet both bruising and abscessing when I suspect I asked too much of them baring in mind he had not had the best build-up to barefoot transitioning (standing cross tied for nearly 3 months drugged up to the eyeballs and eating sugary mix, then box rest on more sugary mix, all with one set of old shoes on!). This lead to him having a month off and shoes put back on. We then had some problems with foreleg lameness. Took him back to hosepital for a check up of his broken leg, and a lameness workup. His broken leg is perfect! Unfortunately all the others aren't :-(.

Nerveblocks show it is his feet, but nothing too nasty in the xrays apart from slight coffin joint arthritis and also sidebones, but of which the vet is not worried about. Medio lateral hoof balance seems to be to blame, so he has now been shod with reference to xrays, and will have more taken before next shoeing.

Hopefully this should clear things up in a couple of shoeing cycles - at least I have the comfort in knowing that the broken leg is 100%, and when we get him sorted out he should be able to do everything that we used to do together. Fingers crossed he will be fixed in time for autumn hunting!

 

[Arc456]

Seeing as the forum is working again, I thought I would post an update on my horse who fractured his tibia back in September last year. He has been in light work for a few months now - took a real setback with his front feet both bruising and abscessing when I suspect I asked too much of them baring in mind he had not had the best build-up to barefoot transitioning (standing cross tied for nearly 3 months drugged up to the eyeballs and eating sugary mix, then box rest on more sugary mix, all with one set of old shoes on!). This lead to him having a month off and shoes put back on. We then had some problems with foreleg lameness. Took him back to hosepital for a check up of his broken leg, and a lameness workup. His broken leg is perfect! Unfortunately all the others aren't :-(.

Nerveblocks show it is his feet, but nothing too nasty in the xrays apart from slight coffin joint arthritis and also sidebones, but of which the vet is not worried about. Medio lateral hoof balance seems to be to blame, so he has now been shod with reference to xrays, and will have more taken before next shoeing.

Hopefully this should clear things up in a couple of shoeing cycles - at least I have the comfort in knowing that the broken leg is 100%, and when we get him sorted out he should be able to do everything that we used to do together. Fingers crossed he will be fixed in time for autumn hunting!

I know this is a super old thread, but how is your horse doing now? Did he make a full recovery?
Almost 2 weeks ago my horse suffered the same injury - circular fracture of tibia with an open wound and there is also quite a big bone piece broken off. He`s staying in an equine hospital, in a sling and I`m very anxious because his prognosis is not great.