Florafern – an eight year old bay Thoroughbred mare

The above mare was admitted to the Valley Equine Hospital on 4th June 2013 having sustained a wound to the right hindlimb cannon region during transport. It had been cold hosed and dressed with a dry poultice prior to admission. A clinical examination on admission revealed Florafern to be bright and walking comfortably with no significant abnormalities. An evaluation of the right hindlimb revealed an extensive wound to the mid third of the metatarsus with significant exposure of the cannon bone and multiple associated linear abrasions. The wound was clipped, debrided, lavaged and repaired under standing sedation and local anaesthesia on the day of admission. The mare was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and anti-inflammatories and monitored carefully.

 Florafern remained comfortable overnight and a re-assessment the following morning revealed the wound to be clean, dry and minimally swollen. The mare was discharged the same day with instructions to continue her medications and to keep the leg bandaged in a similar manner until the sutures are removed 10-14 days from the date of repair. The mare should remain on box rest until the sutures are removed. Due to significant exposure of the cannon bone at the time of injury there is a potential for sequestrum formation and it may be sensible to have a radiograph taken at 21 days post injury.