Treatment of nonhealing corneal ulcers in 60 horses with diamond burr debridement (2010-2013).
Abstract: To review the signalment, clinical characteristics, and outcome of horses with nonhealing corneal ulcers treated with diamond burr debridement (DBD); and to evaluate the role of ulcer duration, size and location, and bandage contact lens (BCL) placement on healing. Methods: From January 2012-April 2013, 60 horses were diagnosed with ulcers classified as nonhealing based on the presence of raised epithelial margins and duration of at least 7 days. Methods: Retrospective record review. Results: Average age of included horses was 14.68 years, SD 8.17 years. There were three times as many males (45) as females (15), (χ12 = 15, P = 0.001). Forty-eight horses (80%) had nonhealing ulcers uncomplicated by associated corneal disease. In the remaining horses, associated corneal disease included esinophilic keratitis (10%), calcific band keratopathy (5%), endothelial decompensation (1.67%), habronemiasis(1.67%), and lid suture abrasion (1.67%). Average corneal ulcer duration prior to diamond burr debridement (DBD) was 29.0 days (n = 56). Ulcers occurred most commonly in the axial cornea (41%). Fifty-five of 60 horses (92%) healed with DBD. Healing time, defined as time to epithelialization following DBD, averaged 15.5 days, SD 9.32 days, and was not correlated with patient age or ulcer duration, location, or size prior to or following DBD. Healing time was significantly longer for eyes in which a BCL had been placed (n = 28, 19.0 days) than for eyes without a BCL (n = 32, 12.9 days), F(1,58) = 5.543, P = 0.02. DBD was considered a failure for five horses (8%). Conclusions: DBD may be an effective treatment for nonhealing corneal ulcers in horses.
© 2014 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.
Publication Date: 2014-02-10 PubMed ID: 24506287DOI: 10.1111/vop.12148Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Clinical Examination
- Clinical Findings
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Study
- Cornea
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Management
- Disease Treatment
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Horses
- Ophthalmology
- Retrospective Study
- Ulcers
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Practice
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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The research article presents a study on the effectiveness of diamond burr debridement (DBD) in treating nonhealing corneal ulcers in horses. The findings suggest that DBD is a potentially effective treatment, with 92% of the studied horses showing healing after the procedure.
Methodology
- The researchers reviewed records of treatment for nonhealing corneal ulcers in horses from January 2012 to April 2013.
- A total of 60 horses diagnosed with the condition were included in the study. An ulcer was classified as nonhealing if it had raised epithelial margins and a duration of at least 7 days.
- A significant majority of the horses (80%) had ‘uncomplicated’ nonhealing ulcers i.e., they were not associated with other corneal diseases. In the remaining cases, the ulcers were accompanied by various corneal conditions like esinophilic keratitis, calcific band keratopathy, endothelial decompensation, habronemiasis and lid suture abrasion.
- The most common location for the ulcers was the axial cornea (41% of cases).
Results
- The study found that the average corneal ulcer duration prior to DBD treatment was 29 days. Once treated with DBD, 92% of the horses showed healing.
- The average healing time – the period between DBD treatment and epithelialization – was observed to be 15.5 days.
- The researchers found no correlation between healing time and several factors such as the age of the horse, the duration, location and size of the ulcer prior to or after DBD treatment.
- A noteworthy finding was that healing time was significantly longer in cases where a bandage contact lens (BCL) had been used during treatment. Horses with a BCL took an average of 19 days to heal, whereas those without a BCL healed in approximately 13 days.
- For 8% of the studied horses, the DBD treatment was considered a failure.
Conclusions
- Based on the study results, the researchers conclude that diamond burr debridement may be an effective treatment for nonhealing corneal ulcers in horses.
- However, the usage of a bandage contact lens during treatment was found to prolong the healing period.
The researchers suggest that more studies may be needed to further explore and confirm these findings.
Cite This Article
APA
Lassaline-Utter M, Cutler TJ, Michau TM, Nunnery CM.
(2014).
Treatment of nonhealing corneal ulcers in 60 horses with diamond burr debridement (2010-2013).
Vet Ophthalmol, 17 Suppl 1, 76-81.
https://doi.org/10.1111/vop.12148 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cornea / surgery
- Corneal Ulcer / surgery
- Corneal Ulcer / veterinary
- Debridement / instrumentation
- Debridement / methods
- Debridement / veterinary
- Diamond
- Female
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses / surgery
- Male
- Retrospective Studies
- Wound Healing
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Peyrecave-Capo X, Saulnier N, Maddens S, Gremillet B, Desjardins I. Equine Umbilical Cord Serum Composition and Its Healing Effects in Equine Corneal Ulceration. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:843744.
- Kawasaki M, Furujo T, Kuroda K, Azuma K, Okamoto Y, Ito N. Characterising keratometry in different dog breeds using an automatic handheld keratometer. Vet Rec 2020 May 2;186(15):e4.
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