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  Discussion on Cut tendon sheath. Will it heal with the constant drip from the cut sheath?
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Posted on Saturday, Jul 27, 2002 - 7:58 pm:

I have a question regarding our ten week old colt who cut a tendon sheath on his right hind. The vet was out and it was decided to keep the wound un stitched. It has been 7 days now and the wound is healing well. No infection and only slight swelling. The only problem is in the sheath itself. It has healed down to where there is just a small opening left in the cut sheath. Of course there is a somewhat steady "drip" from the cut. My question is this, will the remainder of the opening heal on its own with this persistent drip? There is no tissue there to hold a stitch in the sheath. Are there any standard type of recommendations to help this sort of injury heal over the constant wetness? we are treating with daily bandage changes with a novalsan dressing and of course penicillin and genomyacin.

Posted on Sunday, Jul 28, 2002 - 11:36 am:

It depends Ken, if the dripping represents infection because of a small left behind foreign body or piece of necrotic tissue it may not heal until the nidus for infection is removed. If this is clean synovial fluid it will heal and it is still a bit early to be worried. Though the wound is granulating is quickly it takes a while for the synovial membrane to heal.

It the bandages are soaked by the time of the change they should be changed more frequently, possibly a little more pressure on the bandage might slow it down but get this assessed by your vet.
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Jul 28, 2002 - 11:01 pm:

Yes, It is all clean synovial fluid. NO infection is present. The vet has been involved and the bandages are changed daily. The vet had a call in to a surgeon because she was not 100 percent positive that the sheath would heal with normal compression wraps. I am not worried about the baby I am sure he will be 100 percent sound when this heals. I had just had the discussion with the vet about the possibilities of the sheath healing across the drip of the synovail fluid. So the sheath wil take longer to heal than normal skin???? THANKS for your second opinion. Will keep you updated on the babies progress.
Ken

Posted on Monday, Jul 29, 2002 - 8:54 am:

No the time frames for the skin and sheath are very similar but skin does not heal in 7 days either: only the granulation tissue grows that fast. After the granulation tissue has become established the skin begins to heal at about 1 mm a day.
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Sep 1, 2002 - 12:13 pm:

an update on our colt with the torn tendon sheath. He had been stalled for 4 weeks with daily wrap changes and lots of penicillin. There is a MINOR bump at the site where it was cut deepest and most hair has grown back. He shows absolutely NO signs of any soreness or lameness. He is back to running and playing like a normal foal!
Thanks for your input Dr.O

Posted on Monday, Sep 2, 2002 - 10:39 am:

Most excellent Ken.
DrO
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