Skin grafting with the modified Meek technique in the standing horse using full thickness skin: Evaluation of acceptance, wound contraction and wound closure in chronic wounds.
Abstract: The modified Meek technique is not commonly used in equine wound management, despite the consistent reliable and superior results compared with other grafting techniques. Major drawbacks are the need for specialised, expensive equipment and general anaesthesia. Objective: To describe adjustments of the modified Meek technique enabling use in the standing horse without the need for the full equipment. This implied the use of full-thickness skin grafts manually harvested from the pectoral area and manually cut into micrografts. Graft acceptance; healing progress; and final functional and cosmetic result were outcome parameters. Methods: Descriptive case series. Methods: Eight horses with traumatic wounds at the dorsal side of the carpus or tarsus, healing by second intention, were treated. Original wound areas and areas of graft acceptance and rejection were determined from post-processing of digital photographs and percentage acceptance, wound contraction and epithelialisation were calculated. Results: The initial mean wound area was 55.4 cm2. Graft acceptance was 95.3 ± 2.5%. Wound closure was due to 46.0 ± 25.6% wound contraction and 54.0 ± 25.6% epithelialisation and resulted in 96.8 ± 1.9% reduction of the initial wound area 28.0 ± 8.5 days after grafting. The scar was flat, flexible and functional, usually with thin and regular hair growth. The adapted procedure was fast and efficient, with a learning curve for the increased manual work. Conclusions: Small study population. Conclusions: This adapted modified Meek technique can successfully be performed in the standing horse and obviates the need for the full expensive equipment and general anaesthesia. The acceptance of the full-thickness grafts is excellent resulting in fast and satisfactory healing.
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Publication Date: 2024-01-24 PubMed ID: 38267820DOI: 10.1111/evj.14064Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This study discusses a modification of the Meek technique in skin grafting for treating chronic wounds in horses. The adapted method allows the procedure to be performed in a standing horse without needing specialized equipment or general anesthesia. The study found that the modification shows high graft acceptance and results in satisfactory and fast healing.
Objective and Methodology
- The main objective was to describe changes to the existing Meek technique that make it possible to be used on a standing horse, eliminating the requirement for full, costly equipment.
- Full-thickness skin grafts, manually harvested from the horse’s pectoral area and manually cut into micrografts, were employed.
- The outcomes were measured based on the acceptance of the graft, the healing progress, and the final functional and cosmetic outcome.
- This was a descriptive case series study involving eight wounded horses healing through second intention, at the dorsal side of the carpus or tarsus.
- The areas of the original wounds, and the areas of graft acceptance and rejection were calculated by analyzing digital photos post-procedure.
- Quantitative measures included the percentage acceptance of graft, wound contraction, and epithelialization.
Results
- The average initial wound area was 55.4 cm2.
- There was 95.3 ± 2.5% graft acceptance, leading to a reduction of 96.8 ± 1.9% in the initial wound’s area 28.0 ± 8.5 days after grafting.
- Wound closure happened due to a 46.0 ± 25.6% wound contraction and 54.0 ± 25.6% epithelialization.
- Scars healed to be flat, flexible, and functional, typically with a thin, regular hair growth suggesting positive cosmetic outcomes.
- The adapted procedure was quick and effective, although there was a learning curve noted for the increased manual labor involved.
Conclusions
- The study population was small, which might limit the generalizability of the findings.
- The modified Meek technique can be performed successfully in a standing horse, thus removing the need for costly equipment and general anesthesia.
- The acceptance rate for full-thickness grafts was excellent, resulting in fast and satisfactory healing.
Cite This Article
APA
Wilmink JM, van Weeren PR.
(2024).
Skin grafting with the modified Meek technique in the standing horse using full thickness skin: Evaluation of acceptance, wound contraction and wound closure in chronic wounds.
Equine Vet J, 56(6), 1209-1215.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14064 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Woumarec (Wound Management and Reconstruction in Horses), Wageningen, The Netherlands.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses / injuries
- Skin Transplantation / veterinary
- Skin Transplantation / methods
- Wound Healing
- Female
- Male
- Wounds and Injuries / veterinary
- Wounds and Injuries / surgery
References
This article includes 13 references
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