ridecamp@endurance.net: Helping An Injury

Helping An Injury

Amy Stilley (stilleyad@netdot.com)
Fri, 11 Apr 1997 19:41:56 -0700

On Tuesday my horse suffered an injury to his left foreleg. It has been
flaid open to the muscle, and is missing a rather large expanse of skin
so that the edges cannot be approximated with sutures. So, the course
of action that the vet recommends is daily hydro-therapy, p.cillin BID
(25cc per pop), and thick bandaging held in place with vet wrap.
Another course of action was suggested which involved suturing as much
as possible from the top and bottom to meet somewhere in the middle.
The leg would have to be immobilized with a cast. The problem with this
is:
1. Cost is extremely steep. ($500 with no guarantee of success as far
as stitches staying put, as well as not being able to see what's going
on under the cast with an open wound)
2. Swelling due to the injury will reduce with time, making the fit of
the cast slopy. Further tissue damage to injury site as well as healthy
tissur is a possibility with a loose cast. Replacement cost: about the
same as putting one on new.

At this point in time, I have opted to do daily hydro,(water applied
around, and not directly on injury area to that granulation can occur)
clean bandaging, and deal with scar tissue as it occurs. Oh, the wound
is on the left foreleg, between knee joint and fetlock joint, but not
involving either joint. Well, fetlock has swelling due to force of
gravity pulling fluid downward.

In order to keep ride camp clear, please e-mail me privately. Your
words of encouragement, prayers, and personal experiences, as well as
suggestions are appreciated.
Sincerely,
Amy Stilley
stilleyad@netdot.com

PS: If I left off any details, will gladly provide if you ask me. Too
many thoughts going through brain so that fingers may type slower than
what my thoughts are.
-as-

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