Effect of bandaging on second intention healing of wounds of the distal limb in horses.
Authors: Dart, Perkins, Dart, Jeffcott, Canfield
Journal: Australian veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Bandaging and Second Intention Healing in Equine Distal Limb Wounds Over a five-year period, researchers created standardised full-thickness wounds on the dorsomedial metacarpus of 33 horses to compare healing outcomes between bandaged (non-occlusive dressing with gauze and adhesive tape compression; n=17) and unbandaged (n=16) wounds. Weekly photographic analysis revealed that bandaging significantly altered the healing trajectory: whilst both groups showed equivalent initial wound size, bandaged wounds demonstrated prolonged and exaggerated retraction extending through week 3 compared to week 2 in unbandaged wounds, and consistently smaller wound areas from week 1 onwards (P<0.0001). Notably, bandaged wounds produced excessive granulation tissue requiring regular surgical trimming, whereas unbandaged wounds did not, yet neither approach affected total healing time or overall healing rate when excess granulation tissue was managed appropriately. For equine practitioners, these findings suggest that non-occlusive bandaging modulates the early contraction phase and promotes redundant granulation proliferation without conferring final healing advantages—implying that dressing selection should be based on wound location, contamination risk, and client preference for management intensity rather than expectations of accelerated healing.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Bandaging distal limb wounds in horses delays contraction and promotes excessive granulation tissue, requiring increased management; if you choose to bandage, plan for regular trimming of excess tissue
- •Unbandaged wounds may heal in the same total time as bandaged wounds but with less frequent intervention needed, making them a viable alternative for distal limb wounds
- •The decision to bandage should be based on other factors (protection, infection control) rather than expecting faster healing, as bandaging does not reduce total healing time
Key Findings
- •Bandaged wounds showed significantly greater retraction than unbandaged wounds (P < 0.0001), with retraction continuing for 3 weeks versus 2 weeks in unbandaged wounds
- •Bandaging promoted excessive granulation tissue formation requiring regular trimming, whereas unbandaged wounds did not develop excess granulation tissue
- •No difference between bandaged and unbandaged groups in total days to healing or overall healing rate when excess granulation tissue was managed
- •Non-occlusive dressings in 3-layer bandages modulated wound contraction patterns but did not accelerate complete wound healing