To operate or not?

[cheekywelshie]

Sorry this is part of my on going issue about lameness and splints etc!

The vet found a fractured splint and thought that was the cause of the problem

then they removed the shoes and put seated shoes on as it turned out he had flat feet. They could see no sign of lameness after that and suggested resting him for several weeks.

However it's possible the splint could cause lameness in future if it doesn't heal properly - it was clearly fractured - so should i have it removed? the box rest time will be the same.

if it causes trouble later down the line i doubt the insurance would cover it.

 

[angelish]

hi i have two friends with mares who fractured a splint bone

mare 1 fell messing about on road and splint bone hit the curb ,it was completely detached and floating although could of healed ok with box rest
she had her operated on and she is now eventing at BE100 and thinking about novice
her leg doesn't look great she has a big lump but she has had no problems with it

mare 2 came in from field with a lump on leg ,hers was cracked and she decided to go down the box rest route and she is also fine although doesn't lead such an exciting life as mare 1 and doe's the odd hunter trial and mostly hacks
she has also been fine

i think it depends what she has done ,i know the vet involved in mare 1 highly recomended the op but things can go wrong so i'd speak to your vet and maybe get re-exrayed and see what they think

good luck

 

[cheekywelshie]

i can see it on the x ray it is sticking out - but not completely detatched...hmm i just think even when he has recovered and regained full fitness i will be too scared to jump him! (nb it hasn't affected the suspensory ligament)

 

[angelish]

your obviously worried about it so give your vet a ring and explain your concerns and they will be able to either put your mind at rest that it will be ok or discuss the poss of surgery
they will be the best to guide you weather or not to operate

good luck though whatever you decide

 

[Fairynuff]

i can see it on the x ray it is sticking out - but not completely detatched...hmm i just think even when he has recovered and regained full fitness i will be too scared to jump him! (nb it hasn't affected the suspensory ligament)

I would get rid of it before it does start causing problems. No need to be scared of jumping him after, it wont affect his work/jumping etc-he can be ridden normally

 

[unbalanced]

I'm not sure how similar it is but I'll throw my experience in for your consideration anyway. My mare had a chip fracture to her fetlock joint many years ago, possibly fifteen years ago, when she was a broodmare and turned away before I bought her. It wasn't diagnosed at the time and she got better by herself.
Last year she must have knocked it or something because she became lame on that leg - when we x-rayed it we found the chip. She had an arthroscopy to remove the chip and when the surgeon looked inside the joint he found that over the years it had actually rubbed away most of the cartilage underneath it causing arthritis in the joint.
The arthritis can be managed with supplements and joint injections but if I were in your position I would not want to have any bits of anything floating around my horse's body that shouldn't be there, having experienced the problems that they can cause later even once they appear to have healed. At any rate it is certainly something I would want to discuss with my vet. Good luck and I hope your horse gets better soon.