Managing wounds on the lower limbs of horses is expensive, frustrating, time-consuming, and wrought with complications. Various approaches to expedite wound repair and minimize the development of serious complications have been assessed, including extracorporeal shock wave therapy and platelet-rich plasma. Now, even the merits of bandaging on wound healing is questionable, says a group of Australian researchers.

"Wounds on the distal (lower) limb are often left to heal without suturing; however, this often predisposes wounds to form excessive granulation (scar) tissue," said Andrew Dart, MACVSc, Dipl. VetClinSt, ACVS, director of the University of Syndey's Veterinary Centre Camden and Biomedical Research and Clinical Training Unit in Australia.

The formation of excessive granulation tissue is undesirable as it prolongs healing.

"Wound healing in the horse, particularly wounds of the lower limb, differs from healing in ponies and other species," he added