Partially severed tendon :-(

Laura1234

Laura1234

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 June 2010
Messages
284
Location
Hertfordshire
Visit site
Anybody ever had one on their horse? I am needing some good vibes.
My boy came in very lame and covered in blood, with an inch long cut to about 4 inch above his hock. Vet had a look and there is a partially severed tendon, maybe two, so we will not be able to tell fully until scans.
I am just so gutted. Have had him only 6 months, lost our old mare at the beginning of the year, and also lost a horse to colic within days of owning him, so thought we had already had an awful year, and now this!
Has anybody known of horses coming sound again from an injury like this? He is only 6, and whilst if he only ever came field sound, he is for life and would never change that as long as he was happy, but I would be devastated if I could not ride him again, and would not be able to ever afford another, so that would be it with my riding :(
The vets have been great and have said we need to wait until the scans to see how it is knitting back together. I only ride and will ever ride at riding club level, so at least he is not a competition horse, but it is the not knowing that is driving me crazy! I have weeks to wait until they scan him.
He is stitched up and on strict box rest for the next 4 - 6 months, depending on the scans.

Hot chocolate with cream and a flake for some good vibes please!
 
I have no experience of this but just wanted to send you some good vibes and a hug as you sound like you have had a totally s##t year!

Lets hope 2011 is a better one for you.
 
I have heard of 'buttons' being used but honestly don't know how they worked out. Huge hugs for both of you. TRy googling titanium buttons, horses etc.
 
A good many years ago Mum's mare managed to (what looked like!) slice a knife across the back of her leg about 6 inches up from fetlocks! We still dont know how!!!

She went off to hospital for a good clean out under General. - came back looking sorry for herself and on a good 3 months box rest.
She had managed to ruin the tendon sheath and graze the tendon inside too :eek:

Google Robert jones Splint if you want ideas of how she looked! Imagine a huge 16.3hh Full bred cleveland bay who was peviously not on the skinny side with a bandage stretching from stifle to floor!!!
So she hobbled about for 3 months, then went to walking in hand, small little walks out hacking - then after about 9 months?! cant remember exactly - She was hacking out and the odd trot with mum - never lame again!
(mum is only a happy hacker- hasnt jumped or cantered in years!)
Horse was fine, and happy to buck canter and prat aound in the field!!! :D

Vibes! let us know how it goes!
 
Ouch! Prognosis depends on which tendons - and whether there is underlying damage to the bone beneath.

I have a filly who severed her extensor tendon as a yearling - she's now 5 and carrying her second foal (she was rather badly scarred so I didn't try to sell her as a riding horse although she is 100% sound.)

Good luck - the scans will give you a clearer picture.
 
I know someone who had a pony with a partially severed tendon, it was pretty bad and they weren't very optimistic but not only did she survive, but after a lot of rest and tlc she returned to being a useful riding pony. I lost touch with the owners but I'm sure the girl who had her did Pony Club with her.
I hope you have a similar experience with your horse. It's good to know that some horses can recover so why shouldn't yours.

Good luck, I hope everything works out.
 
I saw a foal who severed an extensor tendon in her hind leg. It was awful to look at because she couldn't extend the foot and it was knuckling over so she was attempting to walk on her fetlock. She got splinted and pretty much left to her own devices and whilst the scarring was extensive (loads of granulation tissue) she recovered and last time I saw her was perfectly sound. Hope your lad is ok!
 
Thanks for the vibes guys, only time will tell.
It was such a small cut, but deep, I can't believe the damage, but such a clean cut - looks like it could have been done with a knife! This is possibly a bonus, the cut itself should heal nicely, it's the inside that is the worry, and infection of course. He is currently bandaged up top to bottom, and with one of the zip covers on to keep it all together and immobile as much as possible, although he is being good standing still - I think he knows it is serious. He is resting his foot most of the time, but has had his foot flat to the floor and has been standing on it. In fact yesterday I saw him stand on the bad leg and rest his good leg for a while.
I will update you about his progress as we get on - which could be a lengthy time.
 
Watch very carefully for infection- I'd be taking his temperature three times a day if possible.

Mine had a wire cut last autumn down on her pastern, had a 25% slice through her digital flexor. She had emergnecy surgery to flush the sheath and a serious quantity of antibiotics for 3 weeks. She has recovered fully thanks to the amazing speedy decision of the vet to get her to the vet hospital (I was away with work at the time)
 
Okay, will speak to the vet about this - they are coming every morning so far to give antibxs, for 7 days initially, then see how it goes, may need more. Vet called hospital for advice, but what they recommended, they would do with him, is what the vet can do, so thought better off staying on yard.
Glad to hear yours made a full recovery.
 
Scans are booked in for tomorrow, eeeek!!!
Wish us luck!
He is sound (apart from being slightly stiff) in walk and trot in hand (obviously). Wound externally is more or less healed, the actual tendon area is still very swollen though, and this may never look any better, but not bothered by this. Vet says if scans look good, we can start a rehabilitation programme, yippppppeeeeeee! :D He has been on box rest now for nearly 2 months, so he has done really well in healing and his overall attitude, apart from a bit of biting and some bucking and rearing and generally getting very excitable, but to be expected locked up 24/7.
I feel ill though. I am dreading the vet finding holes or dark patches or something that is going to say 'nope, you're not going to be riding him ever again'.
Anyway, will update again tomorrow when I will hopefully have good news (although tummy does not agree with this).

A nice cuppa and chocolate hob nobs for all! :D
 
I have known 2 horses have amlost identical injuries to yours.

The first happened on a hot summer's day, and the infection in the tendon sheath proved too resilient for Rossdales to beat - so after a month we lost him. We were told we were very unlucky and had an unusually resilient strain of bacteria - 9/10 horse recover from that injury, so you have a high chance.

The second happened with a 4 year old, same place, same treatment as you describe. He is now 10 and made a brilliant recovery: the scar on his leg is quite noticeable, but he has done RC activities, dressage up to Novice level, fun rides, fast hacks, you name it. Vet said only thing not to do much of is jump him, because the tendon won't have healed back as strong as it was before, and might snap, so we just did little logs and tiny jumps on fun rides -suited me fine too :o

So best of luck, overall I think recovery rates are very promising. I think the second horse I know was lucky to have recovered so well, but most come back to happy hacking well, apparently. :)
 
Well, the scan is complete, and the tendon was sliced 2/3rds of the way through :(
Good news is, it is well on it's way with the healing, so we can start walking him in hand now, and build it up slowly, and they are going to scan in another 2 months. So, all in all, it is quite positive I think! :). The vet had him walked and trotted up, and he is still sound, so thinks he is doing very well indeed. His bucking is getting better too, he got very excited at coming out the box today! :rolleyes:. Vet has given us something to keep him calm whilst we get him used to little walks around the yard!
 
many years ago a friend's horse sliced through his sdft and partially through his ddft out on a hack. the first two vets wanted to shoot him, the third agreed to try. the horse came completely sound and stayed sound, many years later she was still charging all over the countryside on the horse, unbelievable.
as long as they can prevent infection etc i think the prognosis is better than for a pulled tendon, because the tendon fibres haven't been uncrimped...
if he's silly on walk-outs i'd definitely try to fence off a small area of concrete yard or stick him in a crew yard if you possibly can, he's unlikely to be daft on concrete, for fear of slipping over, and will give himself walk rehab... v best of luck with him.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top