Equine legs are a marvel of mechanics: they're able to support massive bodies and provide the horse's power and speed. However, horses' lower legs don't do well with wounds. With little tissue and multiple high-motion joints, healing cuts, punctures and other injuries can be difficult. In addition, the lower legs are also closer to dirt, bedding and debris, so it's imperative that equine owners and caretakers take care with these injuries.
A recent study from Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazi, explored using the amniotic membrane as a wound dressing, reports The Horse. The amniotic membrane is a thin layer that surrounds a fetus. Equine amniotic membrane can assist with healing corneal and skin injuries, but it requires special storage that can limit its use outside of universities or laboratories.
Dr. Marcos Rosa wanted to know if amniotic membrane stored in a conventional freezer could still assist with wound healing. He and a research team created a 1.5-inch by 1.5-inch skin lesion on each front limb of six mares. One limb had a piece of amnion applied while the other limb served as a control.
The amnion had been stored for over one year in freezers that ranged from 14 degrees F to -11 degrees F. Before application, the amnion was thawed and rehydrated in a saline solution.
The team then covered both front limbs in a cotton bandage. They removed the amnion dressing on day 3 and continued to manage both the treated and not-treated wounds the same way until they healed completely. Small tissue samples from the healing wounds were evaluated, both visually and microscopically throughout the trial.
The study team found that the wounds treated with the amnion were less painful and had better-organized tissue and improved blood vessel formation. The wounds treated with the amniotic tissue also had statistically significant decreased healing times: amnion-treated wounds healed on average in 73 days, while non-treated limbs healed on average in 84 days.
The scientists conclude that readily available, affordable amniotic tissue that can be easily stored would allow for vets to use the tissue regularly, both in a clinic and in the field.
Read more at The Horse.
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