Compound fracture

Lina

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So I already know that the general consensus will be to put him down, and that will be what happens if he doesn't continue to improve, but for now I'm just sharing what I'm doing because I would appreciate any advice and I feel optimistic about his recovery.

Two weeks ago my goat jumped a fence and broke his leg, he had a compound fracture above the ankle and I felt that it was treatable so I gave him painkillers, antibiotics (five day round), tetanus antitoxin, had it set, cleaned the area with saline, blue coated it, washed down the whole leg in antiseptic, wrapped it with a sterile absorbent wound dressing, wrapped it completely from ankle to knee with sterile wound wrap, wrapped it in self adhering bandage, secured three splints to the outside of his leg going from toe to knee, capped off the end in duck tape to prevent moisture and dirt from wicking up into the dressing, and today I added a leg sling to give his hip and back a break from holding it up. I change the bandage about every two days, I can't leave it or humidity will cause his skin to bleed and chafe, I also can't change it every day because I don't want to disturb the bone more than necessary so this schedule has been working for me.
So far my only concern in his healing process has been the swelling and preventing infection. His leg has been mildly swollen but today all of a sudden his swelling went down about 90% and his bandage has quite a bit of drainage on it, light flesh toned liquid with no smell (he has never had any colorful discharge or any smell at all). Is that concerning or normal? I've had several bone surgeries myself and the drainage seemed like normal wound discharge to me🤷🏻‍♀️
Besides his leg being bandaged my goat is his usual happy/mean self. He's very robust and energetic, he doesn't have to fight anyone for his food or space, his only companion is the world's sweetest buckling, a total Ferdinand who doesn't leave his side.
Any suggestions? Anyone had success fixing a leg break? I'm starting him on some more antibiotics since his leg had so much drainage today, I don't really think he's got an infection though.
 

SageHill

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No idea about that - but it sounds to me like you are handling it perfectly. Takes awhile for bones to heal.
 

Baymule

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Did the bone break pierce the skin? A vet told me that with broken skin, infection is almost a sure thing and hard on the goat sheep.

My favorite ewe broke her leg, it tore the skin. He said he could set it, but it was a bad break. She would have to be in a sling for months, fighting infection, in misery and he wouldn’t recommend it. I had her put down.

I can’t tell you what to do with your goat. I know he is receiving the best care and treatment you can give him. You will know if he’s getting better or worse.
 

Mini Horses

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A clean break or a rough splintered one makes a difference. Compound fracture implies broken skin. There would be swelling and drainage from that. Obviously there's pain. You say "had it set", meaning by a vet? They would have added a cast. I'm confused by terminology 🤔

I've treated some really bad cuts on horses. One broken leg was stabilized that night and to orthopedic vet for set & cast next morn.

Comfrey....check it out
 
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Lina

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Yes the bone pierced the skin, that's why he got the tetanus antitoxin, and it did not break into pieces, just a long S shape so it aligned nicely without much misalignment. He can't be put into a cast because he still lives outside, even if he did live in the house he has an open wound that needs checking. It was basically a guarantee that it would have to drain, it's a break with a hole. I do have comfrey but I am nervous about putting plant matter on his wound, it's dehydrated though so maybe it won't introduce any extra moisture 🤷🏻‍♀️
 

farmerjan

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You are 2 weeks into this deal... no bad smell, you are seeing/looking at it regularly when changing the bandage... no red inflamed tissue, no puss, inflamation, or anything... sounds to me like it is healing. As long as he does not get an infection, GIVE IT TIME.

Tetanus anti-toxin is short term protection... Give him another shot or tetanus toxoid.... but wait... I am not familiar with whether goats can have it... tetanus toxoid is what I would give the cows or calves... long term to get the immune system to work... we use anti-toxin for immediate boost, then toxoid for long term immune response.

If he is acting good, and getting around, I see no reason to get too hyper about it... sounds like you are monitoring the situation much better than most...
 

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