Retrospective study of primary intention healing and sequestrum formation in horses compared to ponies under clinical circumstances.
Abstract: In accidental wounds, trauma and infection can result in dehiscence of primarily closed wounds and in sequestrum formation when cortical bone is exposed. In experimental studies, it has been shown that second intention healing is faster and occurs with less complications in ponies than in horses. Also, a greater initial inflammatory response was seen in ponies. Based on these experimental data, it was hypothesised that accidental wounds in ponies would heal with a lower incidence of wound dehiscence and/or sequestrum formation compared to horses. A retrospective study of 89 ponies and 422 horses with traumatic wounds was performed. The animals, wounds and treatments were categorised and related to the success rate of primary closure and to the incidence of sequestrum formation. The ponies and horses were of similar age and sex. The wounds that were treated were comparable for localisation, duration, degree of contamination and depth in both groups of animals, but there were significantly more cases with ruptured extensor tendons in ponies. Antibiotics and NSAIDs were administered significantly less often to ponies. The success rate of primary closure was significantly higher in ponies than in horses, and sequestra were formed significantly less often in ponies. It was concluded that the results of healing were better in ponies although the external conditions were less favourable. This may be associated with the differences in the initial inflammatory response after injury as found in earlier experimental work, which may result in a better local defence against wound infection.
Publication Date: 2002-07-11 PubMed ID: 12108745DOI: 10.2746/042516402776186047Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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This research study retrospectively investigates the healing outcomes of traumatic, accidental wounds in horses and ponies, with the hypothesis that ponies may heal faster and develop fewer complications such as sequestrum formation and wound dehiscence. The results revealed improved healing results in ponies, despite less favorable circumstances, potentially due to different initial inflammatory responses post-injury.
Objective and Hypothesis
- The study aimed to compare the healing process and outcome following accidental wounds in horses and ponies. The researchers proposed that ponies would experience fewer complications, including wound dehiscence (wound rupture after being primarily closed) and sequestrum formation (dead bone tissue isolated from healthy bone), as per previous experimental data.
Methodology
- A review of 89 ponies and 422 horses with accidental traumatic wounds was conducted. The study considered the animals’ characteristics, the wounds, the treatments applied, and associated outcomes.
- All these factors were analyzed in relation to the primary closure success rate (the fast and effective healing of wounds after treatment) and the incidence of sequestrum formation.
- The comparison considered horses and ponies of similar age, sex, and wound factors including location, duration, degree of contamination, and depth.
Findings
- Although the conditions were assumed to be less favorable for ponies, the results showed a significantly higher success rate of primary wound closure and a lesser frequency of sequestrum formation in ponies as compared to horses.
- It was also noted that ponies received fewer administrations of antibiotics and NSAIDs, and more instances of extensor tendon ruptures, unlike the horses.
Conclusions
- The study concluded that despite less favorable external conditions, ponies outperformed horses in terms of healing from accidental wounds.
- The better outcomes in ponies may be associated with their different initial inflammatory response post-injury, potentially resulting in stronger local defense against wound infections. This links to the previously observed quicker second intention healing (healing by granulation tissue formation, epithelization, and contraction) in experimental pony studies.
Cite This Article
APA
Wilmink JM, van Herten J, van Weeren PR, Barneveld A.
(2002).
Retrospective study of primary intention healing and sequestrum formation in horses compared to ponies under clinical circumstances.
Equine Vet J, 34(3), 270-273.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516402776186047 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
- Bone Regeneration / physiology
- Debridement / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horse Diseases / prevention & control
- Horses / injuries
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Retrospective Studies
- Treatment Outcome
- Wound Healing / physiology
- Wound Infection / microbiology
- Wound Infection / prevention & control
- Wound Infection / veterinary
- Wounds and Injuries / classification
- Wounds and Injuries / physiopathology
- Wounds and Injuries / veterinary
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