Equine wound evaluation and treatment

Question 1

what are the 4 main things we assess when evaluating a wound

Answer 1

bone
soft tissue
synovial
others (foreign body)

Question 2

List the 3 main points of wound evaluation

Answer 2

1. sterile prep / really good cleaning
2. digital palpation
3. Probe wound digitally or by sterile ultrasound probe

Question 3

When palpating wound what are we looking for

Answer 3

heat
pain
swelling
crepitus
effusion

Question 4

List 6 things you should evaluate with limb wounds

Answer 4

location
size
depth
direction
degree of contamination
damage to regional blood/ nerve supply

Question 5

List 3 diagnostic modalities that you can use to investigate wound

Answer 5

synoviocenthesis
radiography
ultrasonography

Question 6

What do we tend to see if horse has transected SDFT

Answer 6

degree of hyperextension of the MCP joint

Question 7

what do you see with SDFT and DDFT are transected

Answer 7

relative hyperextension of the joint and elevation of the toe off the ground

Question 8

what do you see when SDFT, DDFT and suspensory ligament transected

Answer 8

complete loss of metacarpophalangeal joint support

Question 9

describe the pressure test when examinig synovial sepsis

Answer 9

Sterile prep of the joint
Insert needle in joint
Try and aspirate fluid for macroscopic analysis
Inject saline in the joint until it’s fully distended
You need to distend the balloon fully to see a leak

Question 10

what is the best thing to do if you find horse with synovial contamination

Answer 10

referral

Question 11

what local anaesthetic do you use in desensitization wound in horse

Answer 11

mepivacaine

Question 12

what is the goal of debridement

Answer 12

Remove devitalised tissues, foreign material and bacteria

Question 13

what is the most commonly used type of debridement

Answer 13

sharp dissection

Question 14

what lavage pressure is recommened

Answer 14

13psi
12ml syringe with 22g needle
or
35ml syringe with 19 g needle

Question 15

what suture patterns are used in repairing equine wounds

Answer 15

appositional
tension relieving

Question 16

When should a passive drain like a Penrose be removed

Answer 16

When the amount of discharge decreases significantly – wouldn’t leave in longer than 5 days as increases the risk of infection

Question 17

what is important to know before using a wound dressing

Answer 17

what stage of healing the wound is at

Question 18

when are non-adherent gauze used on a wound

Answer 18

When no discharge and doesn’t stick to wound- in the inflammatory phase
e.g. melonin

Question 19

when would we use a foam dressing on a wound

Answer 19

for exudative wounds- in proliferative phase
e.g. Allevyn

Question 20

How long can a silicone dressing be left on/ used for

Answer 20

Technically helps reduce excessive granulation tissue
Can be left on for 3-4 days

Question 21

How long can a silver dressing be left on/ used for

Answer 21

For wounds that need granulating
Can be left on for 3-4 days