title: Comparison of sub-bandage pressures achieved by 3 abdominal bandaging techniques in horses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinicians frequently place post operative abdominal bandages on horses undergoing laparotomies. Presently, no information exists on the amount of incisional support provided by these bandages. Determination of sub-bandage pressure provides a means of comparing the ability of different bandages to support incisions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Determination of sub-bandage pressure over a 24 h period using 3 bandaging techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomised, crossover design using 9 healthy horses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Horses were randomly assigned to a treatment regimen consisting of placement of 3 abdominal bandage types, namely an elastic bandage (ELA), the CM(TM) Hernia Heal Belt (CM) or a nylon binder (NYL). The sub-bandage pressures for each bandage were measured with the Picopress® compression-measuring system at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 h after application.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No time and treatment interactions were observed, and bandage pressures were maintained within each treatment group over the 24 h period. Mean sub-bandage pressures were different between all treatment groups (P < 0.001) at 39 (95% confidence interval, 36.7-40.5 mmHg), 25 (95% confidence interval, 23.9-27.7 mmHg) and 5 mmHg (95% confidence interval, 4.1-7.8 mmHg) for CM, ELA and NYL bandages, respectively. Horses were more likely to lie down with the CM (P = 0.02) and ELA treatments (P = 0.0002) when compared with the NYL treatment. The ELA bandages were more likely to displace caudally compared with both CM and NYL bandages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CM bandage was superior to both ELA and NYL bandages with regard to measured sub-bandage pressure over the 24 h period. The clinical significance of the differences in sub-bandage pressure between treatments cannot be determined by this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, USA.
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Canada
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, USA.
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Beard
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, USA.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Guyan
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, USA.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001458:Bandages; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D011312:Pressure
keywords: abdomen; bandage; colic; horse; pressure