The modified Meek technique as a novel method for skin grafting in horses: evaluation of acceptance, wound contraction and closure in chronic wounds.

The research article explores the application of the modified Meek technique, a skin grafting method, on healing chronic wounds in horses. The study found the technique was successful with high rates of acceptance, reduced wound contraction and speedy wound closure.

Research Objective and Methods

• The aim of this research was to analyze the effectiveness of the modified Meek technique, a method used in human burn treatments affected by infection and inflammation, in treating chronic wounds in horses. This technique appeared to be more successful in promoting wound healing and cosmetic results compared to other techniques.
• The researchers applied this technique on large traumatic limb wounds on 13 horses that were healing via second intention, a process where wounds heal from the bottom up and often result in severe scarring.
• The wounds were photographed at specific intervals to note the healing progress. Special software (Scion Image) was used to determine the wound areas and to compute the areas of acceptance and rejection of the grafts.

Results

• The study found that the initial average wound area was 7500 mm2. The acceptance rate of the grafts was high (93.7% +/- 5.9%).
• Wound closure was achieved by contraction (55.2% +/- 11.1%) and epithelialisation, the formation of a skin-like tissue over the wound (44.8% +/- 11.1%).
• Wound closure resulted in a significant reduction of the initial wound area (96.7% +/- 3.6%) around one month after grafting.
• All wounds exhibited functional and aesthetic healing, indicating the technique’s success in achieving both medical and cosmetic objectives.

Conclusions

• The modified Meek technique for horses proved to perform better than other techniques, providing more consistent aesthetic and functional results.
• The grafts speeded up the rate of epithelialisation and also positively impacted wound contraction, leading to faster closure and smaller scars.
• The technique offers a promising new method for skin grafting in equine wounds in clinical practice, the effectiveness and ease of performance make it advantageous.
• The molecular background of the increase in wound contraction by the grafts might offer insight into ways to medically stimulate wound contraction during second intention healing.