Equine Science Update
Reports from the world of equine research.
Written by Mark Andrews. Published online 29.08.10
© Copyright Equine Science Update 2010
© Copyright Equine Science Update 2010
Do shock waves aid healing?
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Wounds to the horse's lower limbs are commonly complicated by the development of exuberant granulation tissue ("proud flesh"). This may delay healing and make scar formation more likely.
Dr Andressa Silveira and colleagues at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, have been examining the value of shock wave therapy for promoting healing.
They found that wounds treated with unfocussed extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) seemed to produce less exuberant granulation tissue, and looked healthier than untreated wounds, although they did not heal more quickly.
The researchers made five full-thickness skin wounds, (2.5 cm x 2.5cm) on the dorsal aspect of the metacarpus of both fore limbs of each of six horses.
They treated one leg from each horse with ESWT, and left the other limb untreated to act as a control.
The wounds were treated immediately after they were made and then at weekly intervals for a total of four occasions. Each treatment comprised 625 pulses - distributed evenly around the wound and surrounding healthy skin edges.
The researchers found that control wounds were more likely (1.9x) to appear inflamed than were treated wounds. Untreated wounds also had higher exuberant granulation tissue scores.
However, there was no significant difference between biopsies taken from treated and untreated wounds at weekly intervals throughout the study. Neither did treatment have any effect on wound size.
Further investigations are required before shock wave therapy can be recommended for wound treatment. ESWT may be helpful, but so far, there is not enough evidence to support its use in clinical cases.
For more details see:
Effects of unfocused extracorporeal shock wave therapy on healing of wounds of the distal portion of the forelimb in horses.
A Silveira, JB Koenig, LG Arroyo, D Trout, NM Moens, J LaMarre, A Brooks.
Am J Vet Res (2010) 71, 229-234
Dr Andressa Silveira and colleagues at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, have been examining the value of shock wave therapy for promoting healing.
They found that wounds treated with unfocussed extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) seemed to produce less exuberant granulation tissue, and looked healthier than untreated wounds, although they did not heal more quickly.
The researchers made five full-
They treated one leg from each horse with ESWT, and left the other limb untreated to act as a control.
The wounds were treated immediately after they were made and then at weekly intervals for a total of four occasions. Each treatment comprised 625 pulses -
The researchers found that control wounds were more likely (1.9x) to appear inflamed than were treated wounds. Untreated wounds also had higher exuberant granulation tissue scores.
However, there was no significant difference between biopsies taken from treated and untreated wounds at weekly intervals throughout the study. Neither did treatment have any effect on wound size.
Further investigations are required before shock wave therapy can be recommended for wound treatment. ESWT may be helpful, but so far, there is not enough evidence to support its use in clinical cases.
For more details see:
Effects of unfocused extracorporeal shock wave therapy on healing of wounds of the distal portion of the forelimb in horses.
A Silveira, JB Koenig, LG Arroyo, D Trout, NM Moens, J LaMarre, A Brooks.
Am J Vet Res (2010) 71, 229-