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Discussion on Differentiating between a splint injury and a "goose egg".
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New Member:
pacifecm
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 28, 2010 - 12:33 am:
My horse had a bump last month that looked just like a splint would, but it was too far forward to be a splint. He knocked himself while jumping. It was warm, painful to palpation, but caused no lameness or decreased performance. It is 75% smaller today and was never treated.
Now, as of yesterday, my horse has another similar but smaller lump but this time it is right over the splint bone a bit over half way up the cannon (about dime size, but oval shaped). Same presentation: heat, painful to palpation, no reduced performance (He jumped great on it yesterday, oops!)
This horse is 13. I have been told older horses cannot pop a splint in the traditional sense because the ligament has already calcified. Is this true? If so, if it can't be "popped" and if xray shows no break, is it not a "splint"? And therefore can we return to work sooner?
The current treatment and plan is:
-Ice 60 mins 2x per day (most I can do living 45 mins from barn)
-Compression wrap overnight with DMSO only over splint area
-Was administered a shot of dexamethasone and rx'd 10mg tomorrow, 5mg next two days (horse is reactive to bute in any form)
-Stall rest and tack walking for minimum of 5 days or until all heat and pain is gone.
-Return to light work for 1 week, only continuing to progress each day if no heat, no swelling, or of course no lameness is present.
So, because this return to work program is much more expedited that your splint article, might this be a way to determine if this is a "goose egg" rather than an actual splint injury? Or may my vet be feeding into my desire to show him at the region's largest show of the season at the end of the month? What are the long term risks of this course of action?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 28, 2010 - 9:18 am:
Welcome Kate,
I agree that instability of the splint bone as a cause of a "splint" is unlikely in a 13 year old horse so this is likely trauma. As to how quick the horse can return to work will depend on the severity of the injury, radiographs might help with this assessment but the vet's plan seems reasonable to me.
DrO
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