Effects of hyperbaric oxygen on full-thickness meshed sheet skin grafts applied to fresh and granulating wounds in horses.

The research investigates the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on full-thickness skin grafts in horses. However, it concludes that the therapy might not be beneficial for graft healing.

Overview of the Research

This research centers on the study of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) effects on full-thickness meshed sheet skin grafts applied on healing and fresh wounds of horses. HBOT involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber and is commonly used in human medicine to promote healing of wounds and injuries. The study uses two distinct sets of wound cases – fresh wounds and granulating wounds to monitor the efficacy of HBOT in different situations.

Methods

The study methodology involved the use of six horses. On the first day of the experiment (day 0), the horses were subjected to biopsies from two randomly selected limbs. Two 4-cm-diameter circular skin grafts were excised from the pectoral region. One graft was applied to one randomly selected wound on each limb with two non-grafted wounds left to heal naturally. After a week (day 7), the procedure was repeated on newly prepared granulating wounds. Further grafting was performed on day 14 on four ungrafted wounds consisting of two fresh wounds and two with one-week-old granulation beds. Following this, all horses received HBOT daily for one hour at 23 PSI for seven days.

Results

The results were acquired by performing histological examinations of biopsy specimens taken on day 21. Researchers found that grafts treated with HBOT showed less granulation tissue, edema, and neovascularization, but a higher level of inflammation. Moreover, the superficial portion of HBOT-treated grafts demonstrated lower viability than those not subjected to the therapy.

Conclusions

The study concludes that the utilization of HBOT after performing full-thickness skin grafts on fresh and granulating wounds in horses can be counterproductive. Rather than boosting graft survival, HBOT seems to negatively impact the healing process. Therefore, the study does not recommend the use of HBOT in similar cases of full-thickness skin grafting on uncompromised fresh and granulating wounds of horses.