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Discussion on Skin and muscle cut on abdomen
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Member:
spuddy98
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Posted on Sunday, Aug 16, 2015 - 1:03 pm:
One of our prized registered quarter horses fell on an old elevated drinking water frame in the pasture. It was on its side and had a sharp rusty angle iron frame. I would guess the horse ran over it in the dark. 35 acres of pasture and he finds this to keep him and his 4H rider away from the New York State Fair.
The wound is about 6 inches long, through the skin and the muscle. It occurred 9-4-2015 today is the 16th. The vet came out quickly and cleaned it (i didn't see this part) then first sutured the muscle then the skin leaving a 3/4" gap for drainage. He provided a powdered antibiotic (2 ingredients) said to give a scoop twice a day for a week and stop. Keep the wound covered and see how he does.
In the nearly two weeks the swelling went his whole belly and back to just to wound area. We had enough powder for about 10-1/2 days. The wound is still draining a nasty creamy fluid but has no odor. He is in great spirits and has had a regular temperature of 98.6 to 99.9 for this time. His stitches are stretched and he has popped one or two. It is is open over an inch wide and appears to be full of granulation tissue. Does that grow to connect the muscle under the skin too? It is Sunday and I don't want to alarm my vet. Should I start the horse on Pen G from my farm supply store? Should I be alarmed? I will add a photo from my phone later.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Aug 16, 2015 - 6:53 pm:
Hello Cris,
Yes granulation tissue will bind muscle too but the important question is not how does granulation tissue work but whether this wound is in a position to wound without further complications. The swelling and ongoing thick purulent drainage are suspicious that this may not be so. The lack of fever and ill behavior suggest this is not an emergency and I would not give any meds without the approval of your vet but certainly a call tomorrow morn is in order and if you feel uncertain about your ability to accurately describe or evaluate the current situation, you should go ahead and call your vet now.
DrO
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Member:
spuddy98
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 2, 2015 - 10:41 pm:
An update to the story. The wound was nearly healed to ride by State Fair time. Certainly he didn't go as he was now weeks out of shape and still healing inside. as of today 12-2-15 (over 110 days after the injury) the wound on the outside is completely healed. It does now appear to be a hematoma. It is still squishy, which seems odd as I would expect the blood to thicken at this point. With the muscle damage underneath I guess it may have been some bleeding after he was returned to the pasture after about 5 weeks stall rest. Any observations or suggestions would be appreciated. The photo is two weeks after the injury. It popped a couple stitches, filled in and healed in about 5-6 weeks. Wound is on the right side just about where the spur would touch maybe back a bit. We have not ridden him and probably will not until spring.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Dec 3, 2015 - 7:41 am:
Hello Chris,
The best way to evaluate the swelling would be with ultrasound to identify its contents and tapping it. If indeed there still is a pocket of fluid, it should probably be drained.
DrO
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Member:
spuddy98
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Posted on Thursday, Jan 12, 2017 - 10:10 pm:
here is an update on Harley. I have not had the swelling looked at. I do believe it to be a sort of a Hernia as I believe the muscle did not heal properly. Any advice?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Jan 13, 2017 - 8:34 am:
Hello Chris,
The same advice given above applies: ultrasound it to see what it is and from there you can make a treatment plan. Hernia does not seem likely however as there are multiple layers of muscle and it did not appear to penetrate through to the abdomen. One hallmark of a hernia is the prolapsed tissue can be replaced back into its normal position.
DrO
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