Lump on knee 'crackles' - any ideas?

[Rattie]

Hi all,

Often lurk on here and get useful info and have a question about a lump on my mares knee.

She has a swelling in the lower point of her knee I noticed tonight. Not lame, no heat and not painful.

It's not fluid, but when pressure put on it, it crackles, similar to if crisps were crunched.

Any ideas what this could be? Never seen anything like it but not called vet as not in any pain/discomfort.

Will call emergency vet if anything changes but trying to find information online but nothing coming up.

Any ideas to put mind at rest gratefully received.

Thanks in advance.

 

[figgy]

Hi, my horse had a this in his face had vet out as he had a very bad cut that went into the bone it was like bubble wrap it was air. X

 

[swanny]

Does sound like there is air under the skin, subcutaneous emphysema. Could have been caused by a small wound somewhere which has poss closed now trapping air in the cavity or pocket. Agree best to monitor it and call vet if any heat, pain or lameness becomes evident. Even so may be best to get it checked at earliest "non out of hours" opportunity.

 

[Marydoll]

Only time ive heard crepatus like this was after my horse took a kick that left a big hole about 3 inches on the front of his chest, where the wound was the movement of the skin stretching when walking prevented stitching.
Every time he moved, air was sucked into the subcutaneus area between skin and muscle, through that wound, at one point the crepatis was like quiet bubblewrap,and was covering a large area from all over his shoulder to his wither and part way down his side, if you cupped your hand and ran it along this area on his body, the air in the tissue space would move like a wave under the skin.
The body usually reabsorbs the mass of "trapped air" by itself, in my horses case a good week or so as the area was so extensive.
I know this was a large area of crepatus and yours sounds very small, but when its there, theres potential for infection, my horse was given antibiotics for that, having dealt with this before, id speak to the vet for advice, it doesnt cost to call and may put your mind at ease.
Crackling/crunching like this can be heard if there is a broken bone, but since horse isnt lame or sore i think its highly unlikely to be that, and more a wound there at some point.