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  Discussion on Fracture of the growth plate in the fetlock joint
Author Message
Member:
Redalert

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 10, 2005 - 1:40 pm:

Hey Guys and DrO
My four month old colt fell almost four weeks ago, and was seen by my vet the next day. His left stifle seemed to get the worst of it, with swelling and a nasty cut, although both of his fetlocks were skinned and swollen. We wrapped both back legs with Furasin and DMSO and treated the cut stifle. By 24 hours the fetlocks looked markedly better, and he was bearing weight well, and we continued with limited turnout for about the next ten days with Penicillin and smztmp for a week(he had run a fever so we were afraid of "cellulitis". He was recouping fine, only his stifle looked really nasty, resolving itself into a ball at the stifle point, but he was out in a large pasture every day running around(though not as swiftly as before, I would not call him lame just sore) He was still swelling off and on at his right fetlock, but not markedly so, so I had the vet out to do radiographs. We did all spots, and the ugly stifle is just a hematoma that will go away with time. It was his right fetlock that was bad ... two bone chips coming off of the episiphial plate(hope I got that right). She suggested arthroscopic surgery to take the chips out, which is scheduled for next Tues. I am going to have the radiographs sent ahead to the clinic, because I have had other input from folks who have said that the fracture may need to "stabilize" before any surgery, so I do not want to put him and his Mom thru a 4 hour trailer ride for the surgeon to tell me to wait! DrO, anyone else have any advice , suggestions or personal experience with this? Thanks ahead of time for any input!
Nancy
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Aug 11, 2005 - 9:29 am:

What exactly do they want to stabilize Nancy? The chips will be easier to remove the earlier this is done. However there may be many factors on whether surgery is indicated at all. Why not overnight the radiographs and get a opinion before you go down there?
DrO
Member:
Redalert

Posted on Thursday, Aug 11, 2005 - 7:54 pm:

DrO
As usual, you are right on the money ... the vets say the sooner the better to get the bone chips out. The fetlock does not have problems in the actual joint, and the bone chips could actually begin to cause a problem with the growth plate if they move, SO, I'm heading down to Ocala this Tues. morning for surgery on Wednesday , and then right back home by Thurs. or Friday. I'll be glad when all this is a bad memory!
Nancy
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