Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2011 | Page 100

EQUESTRIAN equine veterinary diary Justine Kane-Smyth BVM&S MRCVS of Liphook Equine, IOW Wound management for your horse Horses are notoriously prone to sustaining wounds- the nature of the beast means horses can find ways to injure themselves in most situations! Wounds vary hugely in their seriousness depending on their location, depth, level of contamination and proximity to important structures. Location, Location, Location……….. In determining the implications of a wound and deciding on a management strategy one of the most important factors is wound location. Head and Neck Wounds Any wound close to or involving the eye requires immediate attention so careful repair can save eyelid function. Wounds to the head can often involve bone damage or fracture as a thin layer of skin is the only protection. Wounds involving facial bone fractures entering the sinuses (the sinuses are air-filled cavities within the skull which communicate with the nasal passages) often result in sinus infection (‘sinusitis’). Any head or neck injury carries the risk of brain or spinal injury thus any abnormal behaviour or changes in your horses gait should be investigated. Body Wounds The vast majority of wounds over the trunk heal well, but the critical question is whether the wound penetrates into the abdomen or chest cavities. Penetrating wounds involving any internal structures are life-threatening and will rapidly lead to severe illness. Simple wounds along the top line can run into complications due to poor drainage, whereas wounds to the underside of the body generally heal very well providing there are no foreign bodies involved. Upper Limb Wounds The upper limb is well protected by a large amount of muscle and has an excellent blood supply. Thus well managed wounds in this region tend to heal with little complication. Severe Fig 1 injuries can result in a tremendous amount of muscle damage which may lead to impaired function. However even very extensive wounds can have a good outcome. Fig. 1. This horse slipped on a gravel path, although minor in appearance the wound involved the calcaneal bursa (a 'synovial structure’ sitting beneath the achilles tendon). This wound required emergency surgery to flush contamination out of the bursa. Thanks to prompt attention the horse made a good recovery. Lower Limb Wounds The relative lack of protection over the lower limbs leaves them especially susceptible to injury involving some very important structures. The joints, tendon sheaths, ligaments, tendons and bones all sit just millimetres below the skin and their involvement in a wound can make an innocuous looking wound, life-threatening. Wounds involving ‘synovial structures’ i.e. joints, tendon sheaths and synovial bursae (fluid filled ‘cushions’ found beneath tendons) often appear minor on initial inspection (see Fig. 2.). Severe lameness is a strong indication that a ‘synovial structure’ Liphook Equine Dodnor Farm, Newport PO30 5TE TEL: [phone] (or 01428 727727 out of hours) EMAIL: [email protected] www.TheLEH.co.uk 100 www.visitislandlife.com