title: Effects of negative pressure wound therapy on healing of open wounds in dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effect of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) with standard-of-care management on healing of acute open wounds in dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, controlled, experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult dogs (n=10).
  
  
  METHODS
  Full-thickness 4 m × 2 m wounds were surgically created on each antebrachium and in each dog were randomized to receive either NPWT or standard wound dressings (CON) for 21 days. Dressing changes and wound evaluations were made at 8 time points. First appearance of granulation tissue, smoothness of granulation tissue, exuberance, percent epithelialization, and percent contraction were compared. Biopsies for histopathology were taken, and histologic scores determined, at 5 time points, and aerobic bacterial wound cultures performed at 2 time points.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Granulation tissue appeared significantly earlier, and was smoother and less exuberant in NPWT wounds compared with CON wounds. Percent contraction in NPWT wounds was less than CON wounds after Day 7. Percent epithelialization in NPWT wounds was less than CON wounds on Days 11, 16, 18, and 21. Histologic scores for acute inflammation were higher in NPWT on Day 3, and lower on Day 7, than CON wounds. Bacterial load was higher in NPWT on Day 7.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NPWT accelerated appearance of smooth, nonexuberant granulation tissue; however, prolonged use of NPWT impaired wound contraction and epithelialization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Demaria
authors.forename: Bryden J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.forename: Joe G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Hauptman
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Steficek
authors.forename: Michele C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fritz
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Nathaniel A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Trevor W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Heather S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Hadley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*