ecrozier
Well-Known Member
Just over two weeks ago OH's 3 year old came in bleeding. He's been kicked about 3 inches below the hock on the outside of his hind leg. Called the vet, sent him a picture and he said clean it, cover it and keep in and he'd come in the morning. I didn't see but OH trotted him up for two fairly knowledgable friends and apparently was hardly favouring the leg at all.
Next morning he came and had a look, said the actual wound shouldn't be an issue as not dreadfully deep or on actual joint, but only concern was splint bone fracture as horse by that morning was quite lame, and kick is on bony area of head of splint bone.
So we box rested for a week with antibiotics, wound continued to heal, no sign of infection. But to be on safe side we decided just to get vet back to check - he said still lame so we X rayed. From xrays, 7 days after kick, vet is confident there is no fracture but did see some peri-osteo (sp?!) changes - like a boney shadow outside the actual head of the splint bone with a minute gap between the bone boundary and the shadow, if that makes any sense.
Still happy with the wound, did 5 more days antibiotics as precaution and gave one bute a day to reduce swelling, said put him out in a small pen as he wanted him moving to reduce swelling/help wound to drain. So we did this, first few days were, ahem, interesting
as having been very calm in his stable a little bit of freedom sent him loopy. So he did throw himself around a bit, but after two days we tried putting my gelding with him and that seems to work, he still has the odd buck or trot around (in a small circle!) but generally staying quite chilled.
But I still don't think he is sound. Vet has said lets scan as the kick injury is around the area where ligaments attach to bone, so possibility of some soft tissue damage here. He's coming back on Monday as wanted swelling to reduce and wound to heal as much as poss, which it has - barely any swelling, no heat, and wound fully scabbed over now.
Just wondered if anyone has any thoughts or experience of soft tissue damage in this area? Prognosis? Treatment? Or could it still just be deep seated bruising to the bone causing lameness after 2 weeks and 3 days?
Would be so gutted if its a poor prognosis, OH's previous horse had to be retired due to extensive soft tissue damage in her foot - just praying we can fix this boy as he is so so lovely and behaving really quite well for a 16.2hh 3 year old on restricted turn out/box rest!
Biscuits and tea for anyone who got this far, sorry for essay!
Next morning he came and had a look, said the actual wound shouldn't be an issue as not dreadfully deep or on actual joint, but only concern was splint bone fracture as horse by that morning was quite lame, and kick is on bony area of head of splint bone.
So we box rested for a week with antibiotics, wound continued to heal, no sign of infection. But to be on safe side we decided just to get vet back to check - he said still lame so we X rayed. From xrays, 7 days after kick, vet is confident there is no fracture but did see some peri-osteo (sp?!) changes - like a boney shadow outside the actual head of the splint bone with a minute gap between the bone boundary and the shadow, if that makes any sense.
Still happy with the wound, did 5 more days antibiotics as precaution and gave one bute a day to reduce swelling, said put him out in a small pen as he wanted him moving to reduce swelling/help wound to drain. So we did this, first few days were, ahem, interesting
But I still don't think he is sound. Vet has said lets scan as the kick injury is around the area where ligaments attach to bone, so possibility of some soft tissue damage here. He's coming back on Monday as wanted swelling to reduce and wound to heal as much as poss, which it has - barely any swelling, no heat, and wound fully scabbed over now.
Just wondered if anyone has any thoughts or experience of soft tissue damage in this area? Prognosis? Treatment? Or could it still just be deep seated bruising to the bone causing lameness after 2 weeks and 3 days?
Would be so gutted if its a poor prognosis, OH's previous horse had to be retired due to extensive soft tissue damage in her foot - just praying we can fix this boy as he is so so lovely and behaving really quite well for a 16.2hh 3 year old on restricted turn out/box rest!
Biscuits and tea for anyone who got this far, sorry for essay!
