Puncture wound, infection gone into bone

Yes - we had a mare who cut her leg (by tendon) on some wire - got the vet out - he said it looks ok - gave us some anti-inflamatories etc. 'I'll come out in a few days to see how it's doing' - her leg was worse when he next came out. So she went to the vet hospital, caught MRSA in the wound, got adhesions within the tendon and sheath and can no longer be ridden as she is permanently lame. Thankfully she's a she so is now a broody! But she was only 6 when this happened.
Sorry this isn't very positive
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Yes know of 2 horses who have done this - both caught very quickly and joint flushed, one now competing med dressage (happened as a 2yo) and other has been sound ever since doing open local SJ and local dressage - speed is of the essence though
 
Had a horse out hunting that jumped a set of rails that someone had already hit. The top rail had a nail sticking out (from where it should have been nailed into another post but previous person had broken it).

Nail went straight into horse's knee joint. Got him home and he was crippled. They flushed the joint and he was fine within 10 days and back on the road. Did cost quite a lot though!!!
 
This happened to a gelding I had after a kick injury to the stifle. He was treated for several weeks by my local vet, joint flushes, antibiotics etc, before it was decided to refer him to Newmarket. There he was operated on to remove a bone chip and some infected bone in the stifle joint. He did eventually make a recovery but it could have gone either way.
 
Get a second opinion asap - like tonight if you can and if they think this is the problem get them admitted to the hospital.
Time really is of the essence.
If you have already done this then sorry - it isn't clear from your post when it happened or what has been done.
 
Sorry - Have not been clear at all!

She was kicked in the field 2 weeks ago.
Vet came on the day, cleaned, flushed and dressed wound, he was not lame. Left me with IV & IM AntiBio's

Vet was due to come back three days to change dressing - Was called back after 2 as was hopping lame..... This time a diff vet, who removed drssing and advised to flush wound twice a day and hose leg 2/3 times a day........ Gave diff antibio's by mouth.

Came back on Friday and was not happy so Xray'd..... Left more antiBio's and Bute, continue with hosing and flushing wound.

She then came near to totally sound all filling had gone from leg - Seemed ok.....

Vet came back today and said it could be either 3 of the above and to consider having her PTS and in his opinion she will not ever come sound.

I have stupidly taken insurance on from previous owner and am nearly up to vets fees as it is.....

Vet said wound will heal and it is not life threatening but she will not be sound - Or he 'couldn't see her coming sound'
 
Sounds like they started really well but have left you in the dark now.
I would definitely want a more definite diagnosis.
It must horrible not knowing what to do and what is wrong.
Maybe it is time for a second opinion - it shouldn't cost too much just to get an opinion and at least you might know where you stand and be able to make an informed decision even if it is sad one.....
Fingers crossed for you.
 
2 weeks is not all that long!! hang in there and give it a bit more time, my old girl has just this weekend gone out in the field after 6 weeks or so, she had a kick or something in the field 6 weeks ago, after 2 weeks still hopping lame wound not healing, vet scanned and x-rayed etc and said inf in bone and fractured splint bone!! so lots of anti biotics and cream with steroid and anti biotic in it we are nearly there! she is still lame but only slightly.. Hope that helps keep ya chin up!!
 
Infection of the bone (if my memory holds) is known as osteomylitis and is very nasty. The treatment is very aggresive antibiotics and flushing. Its an expensive treatment and doesnt always work
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. Good luck to all concerned
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I am totally lost by it all, vet thinks it could be in bone, tendon sheath or Carpal area...... Couldn't really give me a straight answer but said wound itself will heal but he doesnt think gg will ever come sound.....

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My mare had a tendon sheath infection in her knee joint.

She'd been lame on and off for a few days, had the vet out and he thought she had an abscess that would eventually show itself. Four days later, the knee ballooned and she was pitifully lame. Took her straight to the equine clinic where the tendon that runs across her knee was "tapped". It was positive for infection within the tendon sheath. Her knee was xrayed and this showed no sign of infection having spread to the bone, it was contained with the tendon sheath.

She was immediately operated upon to flush the joint. Gentocin beads (laced with gentomycin antibiotic) were sutured into the wound for five days, plus she was on high doses of painkillers and IV antibiotics.

After five days, the beads were removed and she was sent home in a Robert Jones with three weeks supply of Baytril to knock any remaining infection on the head.

The opeation was a success. She had a slight complication caused by adhesions forming which stuck the tendon to the tendon sheath. Worked daily on bute for 3 months, the adhesions broke down and she is now 100% sound in front.

This was in January 2006 and we've had no complications since.
 
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