Haematoma on upper thigh - could it turn into an abscess??

F

fatpiggy

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 December 2006
Messages
4,593
Visit site
Anyone got any experience to share please? 11 days ago my old girl was double-barrelled by a shod horse and one of the injuries was a melon-sized haematoma on her right buttock. Over the next few days the fluid sank down into the tissues below but now there is a potato sized swelling left. I presume this is the "core". It is fairly hard and is noticeably warm. My fear is that it could become an abscess in due course. It doesn't seem to bother her if I press it but she is a very phlegmatic old thing and doesn't readily show pain, plus her attention is probably on the big slice on the inside of her hock (which does hurt if it touched). Is it worth assuming the worst and putting daily heat on the lump, or just leave it be and watch and wait? As far as I can tell the skin was never broken so nothing would have got in from the outside.
 
a dartmoor pony of mine got double barrelled in the jaw- i have the vet out straight away as i was worried it was broken, but it did result in a huge abscess.

He advised me to kaolin poultice it until it broke out. I then flushed it with saline.
 
In people haematomas can become infected so I assume it is possible with horses.

I would not apply heat to a bruise (haematoma) but would try cold if she will let you. If it becomes hotter or the swelling starts to increase or get very hard then you need to consider infection. Microbes can enter through the most tiny break in the skin so even if it looks intact it can get infected. If in doubt then the vet would be your best call for advice.
 
I did check very carefully for any break in the skin but I think her fur protected her. I remember myself after I'd got kicked the bruises had hard lumps underneath for weeks after so I'm not surprised she still has a lump. I think I shall watch and wait, because if it does abscess, there isn't much I can really do until it is nearly ready to burst and drain anyway. I hope not though. Blood I can deal with quite happily but I hate pus!

Thanks folks.
 
I remember being kicked in the leg years ago! My leg was black and blue with a huge heamatoma. It stayed large and firm for a fair while, and i still have a bump 18yrs on lol!

I should think you would know if it was going to go infected by now.
 
Yes, this is 11 days on now. I have no experience of abscesses myself (not even hoof ones - lucky me!) and I've no idea what the timescale would be for the infection to form. I would agree though, I'm sure there would be signs by now. Today the lump is firm but not hard and still warmer than the surrounding tissues.
 
The lump will be warmer as inflammation remains (swelling carries heat more often than not). I had a haemetome on my thigh inflicted by a mountain biking accident and the bad news is it hurt for months. The good news is I was sound quite quickly. The bad news is the physio berated me for not seeking help sooner....medics make the worst patients!!!:p

So, IMO it is very unlikely to develop into an abscess but not beyond the realms of possibility.

I agree with the post re hot vs cold compress. My physio advises cold compressing for at least 5-10 mins 2-3 times daily in both me and horses! ;)

Bute or other anti-inflammatories may help, as may massage if it can be tolerated (id get a qualified physio to show you this though) and I had laser treatment on my leg too...

If you don't deal with this proactively and rapidly the fibrous breakdown from the blood will become nasty scar tissue and you'll end up with a larger than necessary permanent lump...(as in my leg's case :().

Hope that helps.
Imogen
 
Hi Imogen, thanks for that. TBH my girl is 27 years old and retired so a fibrous lump on her bum would just add nicely to the collection of knobbly knees she already has! She is on good doses of Metacam for her arthritis anyway, although obviously I upped the dose immediately after the kick as it was obvious she was in alot of pain where each hoof landed. Today the lump felt very fluid and I think it had gone down a little more. Immediately after the incident it stood 4 inches out from her muscle and while it is still visible it is nothing in comparison now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top