Tarsal plate/pin showing through skin 7.5 months after surgery

[Knitgeek]

We adopted a grey in June that had the tarsal injury repaired in mid-March—he banged it open once, we wrapped it, it healed, but he has extremely thin skin—even for a grey it seems.

tonight, we noticed him licking the spot, which he hasn’t really done much, and noticed that there was a shiny bit sticking through the skin, like it had rubbed the skin off. It’s not swollen or very red, just like there’s loose skin with a little hole.

we are going to call the vet in the morning and see what they say, but wanted to see if anyone has experience with that.

[Knitgeek]

Back from the vet—putting this down just in case anyone else wonders about the tarsal break plates and issues with them.

 

It’s infected, scheduling surgery to pull it out. Don’t know how long (he’s a pretty stoic guy, it was fine no open wound when we checked it last a few days prior)—basically though once that plate is infected, vet says very difficult to keep it from staying that way. No thoughts yet on amputation, they’re pretty sure they can just pull the plate out.

 

we just adopted another gray a week or so ago and we are 90% positive his is also infected (it looked like it was when we picked him up from the rescue,) but his first vet appointment is in a week. Probably going to bring him in earlier to have them look at it, schedule the surgeries together.

[MP_the4pack]

My CC had plates and pins put in a year ago to a broken elbow.  She just had a pin removed when it caused the skin to open up. The plate is broken but due to her renal failure, surgery is out of the question unless it causes a problem. 

[greysmom]

It's very, very common for the plates to need to be removed at some point after their purpose is done.  One of my girls just broke her hock about 10 days ago and her surgeon is already thinking down the road about her plate removal.  Good luck!