Treatment of dogs with wounds of the limbs caused by shearing forces: 98 cases (1975-1993).
Medical records of 98 dogs with wounds of the limbs caused by shearing forces (shearing wounds) were reviewed. Shearing wounds were reported most often in young dogs of many breeds, and most often resulted from trauma received during an encounter with an automobile. Wounds were located mainly on the distal portion of the limbs, with the most common site being the medial aspect of the tarsus and metatarsus. All injuries resulted in exposure of subcutaneous soft tissues, about three fourths of all injuries resulted in bone or joint exposure, and slightly more than half of the dogs had joint instability. All wounds were lavaged and debrided. Wounds were sutured, using primary closure techniques or methods that allowed the wound to remain partially or totally open to heal by second intention. Bandages were applied in all dogs. Most bandages were reinforced with a splint device. Grafting procedures or internal fixation devices were not used in initial treatment of the injuries. In the study reported here, healing time ranged from 2.0 to 8.7 weeks, depending on the size and depth of the wound and type of closure used. Mean number of anesthetic and surgical procedures was 1.7 per dog, and the mean number of rechecks after discharge from the hospital was 5.5 per dog. Outcome was considered excellent or good in 89 of 98 (91%) dogs; these dogs were clinically normal or had only minor functional abnormalities after their injuries healed. Outcome was poor in 9 of 60 (15%) dogs.
Beardsley
S L
SL
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA.
Schrader
S C
SC
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001458:Bandages / Q000662:veterinary; D003646:Debridement / Q000662:veterinary; D004285:Dogs / Q000293:injuries*; D005121:Extremities / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007596:Joints / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013165:Splints / Q000662:veterinary; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000662:veterinary; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents