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The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne2014; 55(12); 1146-1152;

The effects of topical oxygen therapy on equine distal limb dermal wound healing.

Abstract: Topical oxygen therapy (TOT) has been used in human medicine to promote healing in chronic wounds. To test the efficacy and safety of TOT in horses, an experimental wound model was created by making 1 standardized dermal wound on each limb of 4 healthy horses (n = 16). Each wound was fitted with an oxygen delivery cannula and covered with a bandage. One limb of each front and hind pair was randomly assigned to the treatment group (fitted with an oxygen concentrator device), with the contralateral limb assigned to the control group (no device). Wound area, epithelial area, and contraction were measured every 3 to 4 d. Biopsy samples and culture swabs were taken on days 16 and 32 to evaluate angiogenesis, fibroplasia, epithelial hyperplasia, inflammation and bacterial growth. Mean healing time in treated wounds (45 d, range: 38 to 52 d) was not significantly different from that in the paired control wounds (50 d, range: 38 to 62 d). Topical oxygen therapy had little effect on dermal wound healing in this experimental wound model in healthy horses. Effets de la thérapie à l’oxygène topique sur la guérison des blessures cutanées des membres distaux équins. La thérapie à l’oxygène topique (TOT) a été utilisée en médecine humaine pour traiter les blessures chroniques. Afin de tester l’efficacité et l’innocuité de la TOT chez les chevaux, un modèle de blessure expérimental a été créé en pratiquant une blessure cutanée normalisée chez 4 chevaux en santé (n = 16). Chaque blessure a été équipée d’une canule de distribution d’oxygène et couverte d’un pansement. Une jambe avant et une jambe arrière ont été assignées au hasard au groupe de traitement (équipée d’un dispositif de concentration d’oxygène) et la jambe controlatérale a été assignée au groupe témoin (aucun dispositif). La région de la blessure, la région épithéliale et les contractions ont été mesurées tous les 3 ou 4 jours. Des biopsies et des écouvillons pour culture bactérienne ont été prélevés aux jours 16 et 32 afin d’évaluer l’ angiogenèse, la fibroplasie, l’hyperplasie épithéliale, l’inflammation et la croissance bactérienne. La durée moyenne de guérison des blessures traitées (45 jours, écart : de 38 à 52 jours) n’était pas significativement différente de celle des blessures témoins (50 jours, écart : de 38 à 62 jours). La thérapie à l’oxygène topique a eu peu d’effet sur la guérison des blessures dans ce modèle de blessure expérimentale chez des chevaux en santé.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).
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Publication Date: 2014-12-06 PubMed ID: 25477541PubMed Central: PMC4231800
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  • 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 research examined whether the use of topical oxygen therapy (TOT), a method often used in human medicine for wound healing, could have beneficial effects on wound healing in horses also. However, the study found that TOT did not significantly decrease the wound healing time in horses compared to control.

Experimental Design of the study

  • For the purpose of this study, a controlled wound model was created with each of the 4 healthy horses receiving one standard-sized wound on each leg, leading to a total of 16 wounds.
  • The wounds were equipped with an oxygen delivery cannula and covered with a bandage for protection and to maintain sterility.
  • Each horse had one front and one hind leg randomly selected to receive TOT (treatment group), while the opposite leg received no special treatment (control group).
  • Every 3 or 4 days, the wound and epithelial area, as well as any contraction, were measured to monitor progress.
  • On the 16th and 32nd day, biopsies and culture swabs were taken from the wounds to assess for angiogenesis, fibroplasia, epithelial hyperplasia, inflammation, and bacterial growth.

Results of the research

  • The average healing time of the treated wounds was found to be 45 days, in the range of 38 to 52 days.
  • This was not significantly different from control wounds, which showed a mean healing time of 50 days, with a range of 38 to 62 days.
  • The research thus concluded that TOT had little effect on the wound healing time in this model of controlled wound healing in healthy horses.

Implications and conclusions of the study

  • Despite the frequent use of TOT in human medicine to promote wound healing, the results of this study suggest it may not be useful in equine medicine for the same purpose.
  • A lack of difference in healing times between the control and test group suggests that TOT may not have much effect on wound healing in horses.
  • It is important to remember that this study was conducted on healthy horses with controlled wounds, implying the results might be different in the case of uncontrolled wound scenarios or in horses with underlying health conditions.

Cite This Article

APA
Tracey AK, Alcott CJ, Schleining JA, Safayi S, Zaback PC, Hostetter JM, Reinertson EL. (2014). The effects of topical oxygen therapy on equine distal limb dermal wound healing. Can Vet J, 55(12), 1146-1152.

Publication

The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 55
Issue: 12
Pages: 1146-1152

Researcher Affiliations

Tracey, Alexandra K
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine (Tracey, Alcott, Schleining, Safayi, Hostetter, Reinertson), and Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology (Zaback), Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA.
Alcott, Cody J
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine (Tracey, Alcott, Schleining, Safayi, Hostetter, Reinertson), and Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology (Zaback), Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA.
Schleining, Jennifer A
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine (Tracey, Alcott, Schleining, Safayi, Hostetter, Reinertson), and Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology (Zaback), Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA.
Safayi, Sina
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine (Tracey, Alcott, Schleining, Safayi, Hostetter, Reinertson), and Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology (Zaback), Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA.
Zaback, Peter C
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine (Tracey, Alcott, Schleining, Safayi, Hostetter, Reinertson), and Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology (Zaback), Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA.
Hostetter, Jesse M
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine (Tracey, Alcott, Schleining, Safayi, Hostetter, Reinertson), and Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology (Zaback), Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA.
Reinertson, Eric L
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine (Tracey, Alcott, Schleining, Safayi, Hostetter, Reinertson), and Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology (Zaback), Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Administration, Cutaneous
  • Animals
  • Catheterization / veterinary
  • Extremities
  • Female
  • Horses / injuries
  • Male
  • Oxygen / administration & dosage
  • Oxygen / therapeutic use
  • Skin / injuries
  • Wound Healing / drug effects

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Citations

This article has been cited 11 times.
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