Septic tendonitis

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wernbach

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Hi all im new to this, but would like any thoughts on the following.

Monday 13 August, we were practising loading with my 6 year old mare and her foal, all was well until I was off loading my mare she had a slip. Put her in the stable which was only about 8 feet away and noticed a laceration to her hind leg. Lac was about 3 inches bleeding ++ and really lame.Bandaged straight away. Vet was called and hear within the hour. We looked as best we could for any tendon damage we didint think there was but couldnt be 100%. Liased with Leahurst and the desicion was made to wait 24 hours. Wound was cleaned and stitched and Robert jones presure bandage applied. I.V antibiotics + anti inflamatories.
She didnt appear to be improving by Friday. Two vets had attended her and it turns out they had got there wires crossed and the mare had no antibiotics since the Monday. Antibiotics were then started Some improvement made by the sunday and a locom vet atended her from Leahurst he had some form of scanner and thought the tendon was ok but there was a lot of air so it was difficult, I asked him why is her hoof flopping around when she lifts her leg. I was questioning why she was still lame. By Tuesday again I was not happy with the way she was holding the leg but vet assured me it was infection and possibly some cellulitis but he did not seem overly concerned again I put my concerns over re the hoof flopping around and the ongoing lameness. I was in work wednesday when the vet came. Thursday (11 days post injury) Mare putting weight on it but leg not holding. Again I said im totally not happy and the vet agreed so it was a trip straight to Leahurst with mareand foal.

MRI scan revealed complete destruction of the deep flexor tendon and part destruction of the superficial tendon. Her toe was pointing upward and the leg would not support her. She was put to sleep as I was told it was hopeless.
Although there did not appear to be a tendon injury they thought something may have penetrated it and caused infection.
So a simple laceration turned into a septic tendon.

If she would have had the antibiotics would this of happened???

Why did alarm bells not ring with the vets when I was clearly pointing out that there was something wrong with the way her hoof started to flop about???

We know have a 12 week old foal with out his dam and I have lost a beautiful much loved mare. I know hind sight is great thing.

Any views or comments please!!
 
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I don't understand how nobody picked up on the fact that the mare was not receiving the antibiotics? Even if the two different vets got their wires crossed surely you as her owner would have known that the vets had recommended ab's and these were not being administered? Or am I missing something?
 
I was with her on the Monday and the vet said he would start her on IV antibiotics which he gave. Tuesday I was working 12 hour shift so my son held her. Weds and Thurs wound was re dressed and I.V drugs administered which I presumed were the antibiotics But since have found out they were only the anti inflamatory.
 
It sounds like a gut wrenching nightmare from start to finish.

I don't know how much difference anti-biotics given on the days she was missed would make a major difference or not. It sounds like you were persistant with the vets in attendance and they didn't pay enough attention but proving it could be tough
 
Tbh while the lack of ABs would have allowed sepsis to occur within the sheath, it sounds as if the tendon was severely lacerated which was the main cause of her demise. Yes it was a grave error and a little surprised that such extensive damage wasn't picked up on a scan long before the MRI was done. Any wound will allow gas into the tissues and gross inflammation will distort the image but it should have been possible to differentiate between gas in the sheath (and therefore likely tendon sepsis and/or laceration) and gas under the skin. Nothing in life is ever that straightforward however and I do think you have just had an incredibly unlucky incident.
 
Just to add, it is unlikely the outcome would have been any different other than your mare being put to sleep sooner.
 
Thank you for your imput. The tendon was not lacerated and the sheath did not appear to have any visual damage. I just thought if she had the antibiotics consistently would that of prevented the infection getting hold? Leahurst said it could have just been a slight puncture (gone in and out) that cost the infection in the tendon.
One thing is for sure I will never look at a simple laceration in the same way again.
 
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