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Discussion on Injured coffin joint
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New Member:
Zebra1
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 31, 2005 - 8:20 am:
Dear Dr O,
My tough little Arab has recently given himself a puncture wound about a centimetre above the coronet band, and was quite lame. the emergency vet came out, took a sample of joint fluid from the coffin joint, and tested it for both protein and white blood cells. The white blood cell count was normal, but the protein count was double normal, and he suggested that this joint was inflamed, not infected. He was given a two shots of antibiotics (SAt and Sun) just in case, followed by powdered antibiotics for his food, which I believe he took and the course went for 4 days. He is still not quite right, and I have taken him out of the stables and sent him out to spell in his own paddock. He is currently splashing and playing in the dam, maybe to keep his foot comfortably cool. How long do you think this will take to settle down, I was hoping a month off work, but I know these things don't necessarily run to my schedule! An opinion please on time off active work, and how I should bring him back into work.
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New Member:
Zebra1
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 31, 2005 - 8:22 am:
Dr O, my apologies, I forgot to say he has been walked in hand for 3 weeks in the stable, and every time he does the slightest bit more work, he is lame again, though not as lame as originally.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Sep 1, 2005 - 6:23 am:
Hello Debra,
Without seeing the injury it is difficult to predict a time, but for a uncomplicated puncture that is properly opened and cleaned I usually expect it to be painful to palpation less (and usually a good deal less) than 12 days which is the time it takes to get all the sensitive tissue covered with granulation tissue.
It sounds like your puncture also injured supporting structures but there are other possibilities: infection is present that is not draining well or there is still a foreign body present. These possibilities need to be thoroughly explored. Lastly the idea that this has caused a traumatic arthritis is troubling as this can cause permanant arthritis. With this possiblity bute and IV hyaluronate are in order and if it is safe to tap the joint consider IA antiinflammatory therapy. But I am always reluctant to tap a joint if there is infection anywhere around it.
DrO
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