Use of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in the Treatment of Limb Wounds: A Case Series of 42 Horses.
Authors: Launois Thomas, Moor Pierre-Louis, Berthier Amélie, Merlin Nathalie, Rieu François, Schlotterer Christophe, Siegel Anthony, Fruit Garance, Dugdale Alexandra, Vandeweerd Jean-Michel
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for Equine Limb Wounds Traumatic limb injuries present significant clinical challenges in equine practice, and negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT)—a technique well-established in human medicine for accelerating healing—offers a potentially valuable tool for managing complex equine wounds. This retrospective case series examined 42 horses treated with NPWT, categorising wounds by tissue type (predominantly bony 36%, articular 33%, and tenosynovial 21%) and documenting clinical outcomes, application protocols, and tolerance. The therapy was applied for an average of 11.5 days with dressing changes every 4.5 days on average, with 69% of horses achieving satisfactory healing at discharge; however, 26% were discharged prematurely when NPWT should ideally have continued, and only two horses required euthanasia due to unrelenting pain. For equine professionals managing contaminated, infected, or complex wounds—particularly those involving bone, joints, or tendon sheaths—NPWT represents a pragmatic option that most horses tolerate well, though careful case selection and commitment to sustained treatment duration appear critical to optimising outcomes and avoiding premature discharge before wounds have adequately stabilised.
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Practical Takeaways
- •NPWT can be effectively used for managing various traumatic limb wounds in horses, with good tolerance when properly applied and maintained
- •Plan for extended NPWT application (mean 11.5 days) as part of your wound management protocol; consider that premature discharge may compromise healing outcomes
- •Be prepared to continue NPWT beyond initial discharge in approximately one quarter of cases to optimize healing, particularly for complex wounds involving bone, joints, or tendons
Key Findings
- •NPWT was successfully applied to 42 horses with various limb wound types over 2-36 days (mean 11.5 days), with devices remaining in place 1-7 days (mean 4.5 days)
- •69% of cases (29/42) achieved satisfactory healing at discharge, while 26% (11/42) were discharged before NPWT should ideally have been continued
- •NPWT was well tolerated with only 1 horse showing discomfort at first application; 5% (2/42) required euthanasia due to unrelenting pain
- •Wounds were distributed across bony (36%), articular (33%), tenosynovial (21%), and muscular/cutaneous (5% each) categories, with most (74%) managed by second intention healing