Wound hasn't healed after 6 months - ideas please

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kgj66

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I have posted on here a few times since July after my horse had an accident which resulted in a deep wound across the outside of her hind cannon bone.

The wound has been xrayed several times and she has had tildren and last month there was seen to be no bone fragments floating- therefore I do not think that this is the issue- there is also no heat, swelling or lameness which I think would indicate a loose fragment.

The wound has closed up from approx. 12cm x 6cm to 2 x 2cm, however it has been at this size now for about 5 weeks and goes through cycles on it healing up and looking like it's closed over to then opening up again. It does not look or smell infected, there is nothing coming out of it, it just won't heal!

I also have the issue that where hair has grown back is now beginning to flake off -I have left this alone and not picked at it, in the hope that when it does fall of it will be solid underneath-ick!)

She has been bandaged the entire time and is out 24/7. The bandage has thick cotton wool to avoid pressure sores and vet wrap. it is changed every 4-5 days unless wet, as recommended by vet. I vary between manuka honey and botanica cream on the dressing. She is a TB and so has thin skin anyway and has always over reacted to any wound.

I am going to vet next week, he needs to see but has recommended a small cast for 6 weeks to limit any movement. She cannot be stabled for long amounts of time as also has joint issues and gets stiff.

Has any one got any other ideas? I am not opposed to the cast but I just want to know if its something I am doing wrong. Do you think it would perhaps heal better if I could leave her in for a few hours each day and let it air? This is currently only done for half/hr - hr when it is getting changed. I cant leave it unbandaged in the field as last time I did this she re-opened and got infected with the mud.

Sorry for such a long rambling post!!
 
What are you treating with?

We have great success with a horse that de-gloved herself with the silver lined gauze that she wore for a week at a time between bandage changes- was out the entire time.

Alternatively manuka honey?
 
Hi. For the first few months she had Botanica cream (not sure if it is only in Ireland?) but it is highly recommended by vets over here.

When the wound slowed in its healing I used Manuka honey (have done for the last month) but it keeps repeating the cycle of opening and closing.

I will have to look into the silver lined gauze, thanks.
 
I don't know if my experience is any help but my boy had an op on his hindlegs for suspensory problems and came round badly from the op and damaged one of the incisions. It looked like with bandaging and care that the staples were going to hold, but unfortunately they didn't so when the staples came out we were left with a 1" by 1.5" gaping wound that was leaking serum. Vet advised leaving the wound open, but George wasn't going out as he was still on box rest, cold hosed it for about 4-6 weeks to keep it clean, and I also sprayed it with vetericyn twice a day. I think it took about 3months for the edges of the incision to come together and now at 5 months it has healed over and we're just left with a small lump.
 
As she had got mud in it there is a good chance there is bacteria in the wound so it wont heal, I had a similar problem with a liveries horse, she was given antibiotic cream and a steriod to put on twice a day under the dressing it took about 2 weeks to properly heal once she started on the creams, I know one was Flamazine but no idea what the other was.
 
If all else fails, my friend's vet recently told her that sounds not healing is a symptom of Cushings and you might think of testing for it.
 
Pinkvboots said:
As she had got mud in it there is a good chance there is bacteria in the wound so it wont heal,.
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That's what I was thinking; it could also be something as simple as a piece of hair or hay that's stuck somewhere that you can't see.

My vet would probably flush it out thoroughly under sedation and abrade it to get to healthy skin then bandage with Intrasite or something similar.
 
I'd wholeheartedly recommend using this stuff:

http://equinefirstaid.info/

Have a good read on the site. It is phenomenal for healing, and I've used it on so many bad wounds now I've lost count. It's very easy to use, won't do any harm at all, and works quickly. The customer service is good too - ring them and it'll be with you normally on the next day.
 
Covidien Anti Microbial Foam dressings & Hypocare. They are an absolutely phenomenal combination and I have cured some horrible leg wounds down to the tiniest of scars (as in you will only find them if you know where to look). Feel free to pm me your email and I will send you before & after pics. I do Hypocare on wound, spray dressing too. Apply foam pad, Soffban Gamgee, really light bandage to hold in place (the real cheap ones about 35p in chemist) the Vetwrap whole dressing to secure. First dressing three days, then five days and up till they are on for a week at a time. One vet completely wrote of a fab 3 year old last year with an ulcerated wound on a hind leg that it would be impossible to heal with no scar/lasting damage as wound was huge and deep. No proud flesh either!! the first horse I treated with these dressings was before Hypocare was available and Hypocare definitely speeds up the process.
 
Maesfen said:
That's what I was thinking; it could also be something as simple as a piece of hair or hay that's stuck somewhere that you can't see.

My vet would probably flush it out thoroughly under sedation and abrade it to get to healthy skin then bandage with Intrasite or something similar.
Click to expand...
I just spoke to the livery and she said vet gave her oral antibiotics as well as cream, they were the powder type in a blue and white sachet, can also recommend hypocare I use it alll the time,my mare had a real nasty cut on the outside of her cannon bone, whole leg swollen looked infected, I really washed it with an antibactial wash and hosed twice a day then sprayed it with hypocare and it looked better after a few days, I really expected I would have to get a vet but I managed to do it myself with the hypocare.
 
I had a similar issue with a hock injury it did not heal it had over a thousand pounds do expensive antibiotic in the end the vet stuck a pair of sterilised curved sissiors in it and dappled them around then we flushed it with diluted hibiscrub .
It healed in a few days it is thought something minute was in there stopping the healing.
Amages suggestion founds like a great thing to try , I also think Hypocare works very well on all sorts of things .
 
Thank you so much for all of the ideas. The hypocare does sound like it's worth looking into.

The vet suggested that perhaps a bit of bone fragment may be coming out even though it should that the fragments and joined to the main bone in the xray. He is going to have a good look after Christmas when I take her.

Hopefully it is as simple as there is something trapped in there and it just needs properly cleaned out.

Thanks again :)
 
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