FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Equine veterinary journal2021; 54(3); 592-600; doi: 10.1111/evj.13487

Limited added value of negative pressure wound therapy compared with calcium alginate dressings for second intention healing in a noncontaminated and contaminated equine distal limb wound model.

Abstract: Distal limb wounds in horses often show aberrant healing due to a slow inflammatory response. In human medicine, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is used for the treatment of chronic wounds with a similar inflammatory response. Objective: To compare the effect of NPWT to calcium alginate dressings on the healing of (non) contaminated equine distal limb wounds. Methods: Controlled experiment. Methods: Circular wounds were created on the left and right dorsomedial metacarpus of 10 horses. In five horses, the wounds were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In all horses, one limb was treated with NPWT, the other with calcium alginate dressings. Treatments were applied during nine days for noncontaminated wounds and six days for contaminated wounds. Noninvasive (clinical assessment, bacteriology swabs, thermographic images and wound dimensions) and invasive (biopsies for histology and growth factor analysis) measurements were taken regularly for 71 and 29 days respectively. Effects of selected parameters on continuous dependent variables were analysed using ANOVA, while for discrete dependent variables, logistic regression was applied. Results: In noncontaminated wounds, there was significantly less wound retraction in the early healing stages when treated with NPWT (mean difference [95% CI] = 19.2% [13.3%-25.1%]; P = .005), although wound size was not significantly different between NPWT and control wounds at later healing stages. Noncontaminated control wounds had a significantly higher neutrophil influx (OR [95% CI] = 1.99 [1.49-2.66]; P < .001) and lower macrophage influx (OR [95% CI] = 0.75 [0.60-0.93]; P = .008) compared with NPWT-treated wounds. Bacterial load and the presence of growth factors did not differ between treatments in noncontaminated wounds. In contaminated wounds, no differences between treatments were observed in wound size, histological parameters, bacterial load or growth factor concentration. Conclusions: Sample size is small. Conclusions: No long-term advantage was detected with NPWT compared with calcium alginate dressings in noncontaminated or contaminated equine distal limb wounds healing by second intention.
© 2021 EVJ Ltd.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2021-07-29 PubMed ID: 34115409DOI: 10.1111/evj.13487Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study compared the efficiency of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) and calcium alginate dressings in healing noncontaminated and contaminated distal limb wounds in horses. It concluded that NPWT had no significant long-term benefit over calcium alginate dressings in the healing of such wounds.

Research Methodology

  • The study was a controlled experiment involving 10 horses.
  • Noncontaminated and contaminated wounds were created on the left and right dorsomedial metacarpus of the horses.
  • For five horses, the wounds were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
  • In all the horses, one limb was treated with NPWT, and the other with calcium alginate dressings.
  • The treatments were applied for nine and six days for noncontaminated and contaminated wounds, respectively.
  • Both noninvasive (clinical assessment, bacteriology swabs, thermographic images, wound dimensions) and invasive (biopsies for histology and growth factor analysis) measurements were taken over different periods.
  • The potential effects of certain factors on the variables were analysed using ANOVA and logistic regression techniques.

Research Findings

  • In the case of noncontaminated wounds, there was significantly less retraction in the early stages of healing with NPWT, but wound size was not significantly different between NPWT and control wounds at later stages.
  • Noncontaminated control wounds showed a significantly higher neutrophil influx and a lower macrophage influx when compared to NPWT-treated wounds.
  • There was no significant difference between bacterial load and the presence of growth factors in noncontaminated wounds treated by both methods.
  • In the case of contaminated wounds, no significant differences were observed in terms of wound size, histological parameters, bacterial load or growth factor concentration.
  • The study concluded that there was no significant long-term advantage of using NPWT over calcium alginate dressings in the healing of noncontaminated or contaminated equine distal limb wounds healing by second intention.

Study Limitations

  • The study had a small sample size, which could impact the reliability and generalisability of the results.

Cite This Article

APA
Haspeslagh M, Van Hecke LL, Hermans K, Chiers K, Pint E, Wilmink JM, Martens AM. (2021). Limited added value of negative pressure wound therapy compared with calcium alginate dressings for second intention healing in a noncontaminated and contaminated equine distal limb wound model. Equine Vet J, 54(3), 592-600. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13487

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 54
Issue: 3
Pages: 592-600

Researcher Affiliations

Haspeslagh, Maarten
  • Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Van Hecke, Lore L
  • Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Hermans, Katleen
  • Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Chiers, Koen
  • Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Pint, Eva
  • Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Wilmink, Jacintha M
  • Woumarec, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Martens, Ann M
  • Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.

MeSH Terms

  • Alginates
  • Animals
  • Bandages / veterinary
  • Horses
  • Intention
  • Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy / methods
  • Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy / veterinary
  • Wound Healing

Grant Funding

  • 01D25512 / Ghent University Special Research Fund

References

This article includes 25 references
  1. Theoret C. Wound repair: problems in the horse and innovative solutions.. In: Theoret C, Schumacher J, editors. Equine wound management. 2nd ed. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell; 2008. p. 47-68.
  2. Wilmink JM, Stolk PW, Van Weeren PR, Barneveld A. Differences in second-intention wound healing between horses and ponies: macroscopic aspects.. Equine Vet J 1999;31:53-60.
  3. Stashak T, Farstvedt E. Update on wound dressings: indications and best use.. Theoret C, Schumacher J, editors. Equine wound management. 2nd ed. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell; 2008. p. 109-36.
  4. Wilmink JM. The value of veterinary wound management for human wounds and wound care.. EWMA J 2014;14:39-41.
  5. Morykwas MJ, Argenta LC, Shelton-Brown EI, McGuirt W. Vacuum-assisted closure: a new method for wound control and treatment: animal studies and basic foundation.. Ann Plas Surg 1997;38:553-62.
  6. Vig S, Dowsett C, Berg L, Caravaggi C, Rome P, Birke-Sorensen H. Evidence-based recommendations for the use of negative pressure wound therapy in chronic wounds: Steps towards an international consensus.. J Tissue Viability 2011;20:S1-18.
  7. Mouës CM, Heule F, Hovius SER. A review of topical negative pressure therapy in wound healing: sufficient evidence?. Am J Surg 2011;201:544-56.
  8. Huang C, Leavitt T, Bayer LR, Orgill DP. Effect of negative pressure wound therapy on wound healing.. Curr Probl Surg 2014;51:301-31.
  9. Demaria M, Stanley BJ, Hauptman JG, Steficek BA, Fritz MC, Ryan JM. Effects of negative pressure wound therapy on healing of open wounds in dogs.. Vet Surg 2011;40:658-69.
  10. Patmo ASP, Krijnen P, Tuinebreijer WE, Breederveld RS. The effect of vacuum-assisted closure on the bacterial load and type of bacteria: a systematic review.. Adv Wound Care 2014;3:383-9.
  11. Mouës CM, Vos MC, Van Den Bemd GCM, Stijnen T, Hovius SER. Bacterial load in relation to vacuum-assisted closure wound therapy: a prospective randomized trial.. Wound Repair Regen 2004;12:11-7.
  12. Weed T, Ratliff C, Drake DB. Quantifying bacterial bioburden during negative pressure wound therapy. Does the wound VAC enhance bacterial clearance?. Ann Plas Surg 2004;52:276-80.
  13. Adams AP, Santschi EM, Mellencamp MA. Antibacterial properties of a silver-coated nylon wound dressing.. Vet Surg 1999;28:219-25.
  14. Ip M, Lui SL, Poon V, Lung I, Burd A. Antimicrobial activities of silver dressings: an in vitro comparison.. J Med Microbl 2006;55:59-63.
  15. Gemeinhardt KD, Molnar JA. Vacuum-assisted closure for management of a traumatic neck wound in a horse.. Equine Vet Educ 2005;17:27-33.
  16. Rijkenhuizen AB, van den Boom R, Landman M, Cornelissen PM. Can Vacuum assisted wound management enhance graft acceptance?. Pferdeheilkunde 2005;21:413-8.
  17. Jordana M, Pint E, Martens A. The use of vacuum-assisted wound closure to enhance skin graft acceptance in a horse.. Vlaams Diergen Tijds 2011;80:343-50.
  18. Levine NS, Lindberg RB, Mason AD, Pruitt BA. The quantitative swab culture and smear: a quick, simple method for determining the number of viable aerobic bacteria on open wounds.. J Traum 1976;16:89-94.
  19. Celeste CJ, Deschene K, Riley CB, Theoret CL. Regional differences in wound oxygenation during normal healing in an equine model of cutaneous fibroproliferative disorder.. Wound Repair Regen 2011;19:89-97.
  20. Van Hecke L, De Mil T, Haspeslagh M, Chiers K, Martens A. Evaluation of a new laser beam wound camera and a digital photoplanimetry based method for wound measurement in horses.. Vet J 2015;203:309-14.
  21. Bischofberger AS, Dart CM, Perkins NR, Dart AJ. A preliminary study on the effect of manuka honey on second-intention healing of contaminated wounds on the distal aspect of the forelimbs of horses.. Vet Surg 2011;40:898-902.
  22. Bischofberger AS, Dart CM, Horadagoda N, Perkins NR, Jeffcott LB, Little CB. Effect of Manuka honey gel on the transforming growth factor β1 and β3 concentrations, bacterial counts and histomorphology of contaminated full-thickness skin wounds in equine distal limbs.. Aust Vet J 2016;94:27-34.
  23. Tracey AK, Alcott CJ, Schleining JA, Safayi S, Zaback PC, Hostetter JM. The effects of topical oxygen therapy on equine distal limb dermal wound healing.. Can Vet J 2014;55:1146-52.
  24. Theoret CL, Wilmink JM. Aberrant wound healing in the horse: naturally occurring conditions reminiscent of those observed in man.. Wound Repair Regen 2013;21:365-71.
  25. Nuutila K, Siltanen A, Peura M, Harjula A, Nieminen T, Vuola J. Gene expression profiling of negative-pressure-treated skin graft donor site wounds.. Burns 2013;39:687-93.

Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Partusch L, Rutland CS, Martens A, Du Cheyne C, De Spiegelaere W, Michler JK. Collagen composition in equine exuberant granulation tissue reflects tissue immaturity. PLoS One 2025;20(11):e0335179.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0335179pubmed: 41196884google scholar: lookup
  2. Ribeiro G, Carvalho L, Borges J, Prazeres J. The Best Protocol to Treat Equine Skin Wounds by Second Intention Healing: A Scoping Review of the Literature. Animals (Basel) 2024 May 18;14(10).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14101500pubmed: 38791717google scholar: lookup
  3. Cantatore F, Pagliara E, Marcatili M, Bertuglia A. Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) in Horses: A Scoping Review. Vet Sci 2023 Aug 6;10(8).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci10080507pubmed: 37624295google scholar: lookup
  4. Du Cheyne C, Martens A, De Spiegelaere W. High Numbers of CD163-Positive Macrophages in the Fibrotic Region of Exuberant Granulation Tissue in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2021 Sep 18;11(9).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11092728pubmed: 34573694google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,850 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.