Use of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in the Treatment of Limb Wounds: A Case Series of 42 Horses.

The research explores the use of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) in treating traumatic limb injuries in 42 horses, noting its applicability, complications, and the overall satisfaction rate of the treatment.

Study Approach

• The study is a retrospective analysis of clinical records of 42 horses with limb wounds treated using NPWT.
• Characteristics of the injuries, technical issues encountered, treatment duration, and the animals’ reactions to treatment were recorded.

Classification of Wounds

• The wounds were categorized into bony, articular, tenosynovial, muscular, and cutaneous, based on the affected tissues.
• Most of the wounds were associated with bones (36%) and joints (33%), with a few wounds of muscular (5%) and skin origin (5%).

Implementation of NPWT

• NPWT was predominantly used to aid second intention healing, i.e., the wound is left open and allowed to heal naturally (74% of cases).
• It was also used preoperatively (7%) or postoperatively (17%) for first intention healing, where the wound is surgically closed with sutures, stitches, or staples.
• NPWT was also applied for delayed primary closure (2%) where the wound is left open for several days before surgery is conducted to close it.

Duration of NPWT Application

• The therapy was utilized for periods ranging from 2 to 36 days, remaining in place for 1 to 7 days on average.

Treatment Outcomes

• Almost 70% of the treated horses had satisfactory wound healing at the time of discharge.
• About 26% of the horses were discharged ideally, though NPWT treatment could have been continued.
• Two horses were euthanized post-surgery due to unmanageable pain.

Tolerance to NPWT

• Generally, the horses tolerated the NPWT well, except one that showed signs of discomfort during the initial treatment.

In conclusion, the study highlights the potential of NPWT in managing various types of limb wounds in horses, though further research can enhance the understanding and effectiveness of the treatment.