Leg injury (graphic pictures)

[mightymammoth]

tnavas ouch that's some "scratch", how did he manage to do that do? Looks fab now well done.

 

[Tnavas]

Victoria1980x we really aren't sure what he did. He was out in the paddock at the home of the girl who was leasing him - they had not long moved to the property so possibly there was wire, broken bottle - who really knows what lurking in the ground. The weather had been really wet with flooding which brings up some strange things.

She went around the paddock looking for possible things but came up with nothing.

It was really frustrating as at 6 years old he'd never had an injury. I've since sold him to a lovely teenager who has been very diligent in keeping up the treatment.

 

[Mrs Bradfield]

I really take my hat off to owners like yourself - nothing is too much trouble for there horses.

And I love the fact that you are considerate enough to get him massages, as this really does make a differance to them - I spent a fortune on big lad getting massages etc when he was on box rest - and it was a great bordom breaker for him too.

Keep up with the photos it really is so encouraging when you have a accident prone tb !

Totally agree with this! Is lovely to see people take the time and effort

 

[justmemydear]

Thank you he's been so good its over 10 weeks now he's been stood in and just seems rather happy to be in his stable i think when he's better he'll be one that lives in 24/7 with just an hours turnout or so in the day while i am there plus riding, i'm having a paddock fenced off just for him as i am not risking it again and knowing what he's like if it dares to rain on him he'll try to climb over fence again x

 

[justmemydear]

Very good day for my lad today, had a shave vet very very happy but he's allowed to have a stroll out down village so he can start to regain some muscle and chomp some grass off village green, he'll love that x

being shaved

After a shave will look heaps better by next bandage change

 

[angelish]

lovely to see the progress thanks for posting updates and pics its really interesting watching it heal well done hope he enjoys his walk

 

[justmemydear]

thank you very positive today from vet she has seen this injury loads while working in Australia so good to have her on board, no sedation needed just lots of carrots to shave his leg, so he has another massage booked saturday and can have a walk out to chomp grass think he'll be happy x

 

[JackAT]

Just looked at the original pic and compared, truly fantastic. Interesting to see the picture mid-shave as well! does the vet just use a scalpel and slice it? looks like they're almost scraping rather than slicing...

Gruesome I know, but I'm very curious. Wondering if I'll have to do the same in the future to any human patients with de-gloving injuries!

 

[justmemydear]

JackAT thank you, its a scalpel blade she cuts slices off the proud flesh that sticks out then feels to see if its level with the sides where the skin is growing. Its pretty similar to watching your kebab being carved off. My friend in Ireland is sending me a article as over there they use maggots to keep the proud flesh back. It has no nerve endings so doesn't hurt he just doesn't like the blood running down his leg to start with and it does bleed loads that's something I'm ok with now but use to panic when I saw it done the first time. Will change bandage Sunday probably will look rough but generally come the change after that you see a massive difference x

 

[justmemydear]

11 weeks of box rest do i looked stressed could hardly stay awake for todays massage lol x

 

[Emilieu]

Wow what a wonderful thread, thank you for posting and a massive well done to you. Your boy is beautiful and looks like a star patient!

 

[justmemydear]

Thank you i love this horse so much he is a star to nurse, here he is today and his bandage change photo's after his shave thursday x

alot flatter

having a break from his stable but just wanted to eat hay lol

 

[justmemydear]

My lad is now on day 97 he's feeling good rather too good, he doesn't want his bandage on now but hay hoe he has to as much as he tries to take it off, walked him out sunday and he didn't spend much time on the ground with any of his feet if we wasn't bucking we was rearing or leaping with all 4 feet off the ground while i held lead rope, so now need to be suit and booted as he nearly knocked me out he's feeling so fresh plus back to bridle for more control, but so nice that he is feeling well enough to show me his old self, if anyone wants to donate super glue for when i get to ride him feel free to send it my way lol x

Here he is today lots of skin growth was slightly concerned that the bottom wasn't growing after his last shave but we now have growth its just slower than the rest

 

[Fools Motto]

Just thought I should join the others in saying that is some injury and some fab healing. Well done to all your dedication, the end is in sight!

 

[justmemydear]

thank you, it still looks large but its half the size it was and is so quick to clean now only mess on the dressing is the manuka honey, We are so pleased with him x

 

[Doris68]

Well done! You are a brilliant nurse and he's a star patient. So pleased for you both!

 

[justmemydear]

thank you Doris, i'll be needing advise soon on best way to bring him back into work as he's dropped muscle and top line with his 14 weeks box rest and more to come still x

 

[angelish]

pleased to read he's still doing well

 

[_GG_]

You can do some whisping to help his muscle condition. Hard work and lengthy to do the whole body, but worked for my old mare. She had 15 months box rest and didn't look any different the day she came out than the day she went in. She was advanced medium dressage so very well muscled. I whisked her twice a day...took about an hour each time, but was good for her mentally having time spent on her and brilliant for her body. I always made a new one each day out of her hay

The leg looks amazing, well done!!!

 

[JackAT]

Good to hear he's returning to his old self!

What's manuka honey? I've heard of it but never really researched it properly.

 

[angel7]

I agree with other poster regarding stopping the use of honey on this wound. Manuka is great for cleaning sloughy, necrotic, smelly and infected wounds, but this leg injury is well past that stage now.
As a trained nurse I would not use honey where proud flesh is occurring as it WILL encourage more overgranulation which you are trying to prevent. The osmotic action of the honey which is so good for cleaning wounds has a drawing affect on the wound bed which causes more proud flesh to form (think sugar poultice!!!)

Consider the copper sulphate application, perhaps to a small area first, it will chemically burn back the flesh (expect the leg to swell in response and don't bandage it).
Pressure against the wound is essential to compress the vessels and reduce the vascuous nature of the overgranulation tissue, so increase the amount of wool padding you are using and ensure you are applying the bandage with some compression ie pull to half stretch while applying. Consider the application of a mild steroid cream if you aren't sure about the copper sulphate.
I would also be leaving the dressing change to every second day if it isn't too wet or dirty- everytime the wound is exposed its temperature drops which takes many hours to regain at the wound bed- slowing healing.
I would also reduce the washing and wiping of the wound bed to, it will be removing and killing the cells trying to form. Simply irrigate around the wound to remove goo and leave the rest untouched.
Also consider walking the horse out a lot more to encourage circulation to the whole leg and reduce the formation of scar adhesions.
Well done so far and keep going!!!

 

[JackAT]

Any new pictures/updates here? I'm always interested in this thread!

 

[justmemydear]

Sorry for not posting been really busy, thank you Angel for your advice i have the vet coming Thursday as need a very small shave done on the bottom part as skin isn't growing over a small lip of flesh so will enquire about what you have said. GG i've never done that but i will look into it thank you. He's very on his toes and strong now getting back to his grumpy face pulling self but this was taken today on his bandage change, which i might add is getting hard to keep on, he is getting extremely clever at getting them off lately lol x

 

[Tiffany]

Bless him, what a terrible injury you must have been so shocked and upset when you first saw it Amazing how well it is healing

 

[justmemydear]

Thank you. My first impression was vet would tell me to pts but she didn't just said it would be a long road to recovery which was fine. We are on the home straight now as its so small compared to what it was. 107 days since it happened not that I counting lol x

 

[Persephone]

What a credit to you Well done!

 

[JackAT]

no need to apologise! You've a valid reason to be busy haha! looks like things are staying on track great to see

 

[JustKickOn]

Wow!! OP, you must have so much patience and determination!
Well done for looking after that wound so well, he's very lucky to have you as an owner.

As a side note, have you considered using camrosa ointment on the wound once the skin has grown over it completely? I'm just thinking that now spring is starting, there is a chance that the flies will start to fly their horrid little selves out. The ointment really helps the healing process and acts as a fly repellent. Link below.
http://www.camrosa.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18&Itemid=102

 

[justmemydear]

Hi, here's a photo from sunday just gone, he's had another shave since i've been on here last and vet caught him but its healed again fine. I went on a wound management talk last night and she seemed to think i maybe better with pinch grafts taken from his neck then to put him in a cast for a week, but this is between £500 to £800 which i am happy to pay has anyone had a pinch graft done so i know the outcome?

 

[AmyMay]

Completely and utterly amazing!