TREATMENT OF DOGS WITH WOUNDS OF THE LIMBS CAUSED BY SHEARING FORCES - 98 CASES (1975-1993)

Medical records of 98 dogs with wounds of the limbs caused by shearing forces (shearing wounds) were reviewed. Shearing wounds were reported most often in young dogs of many breeds, and most often resulted from trauma received during an encounter with an automobile. Wounds were l ocated mainly on the distal portion of the limbs, with the most common site being the medial aspect of the tarsus and metatarsus. All injuri es resulted in exposure of subcutaneous soft tissues, about three four ths of all injuries resulted in bone or joint exposure, and slightly m ove than half of the dogs had joint instability. All wounds were lavag ed and debrided. Wounds were sutured, using primary closure techniques or methods that allowed the wound to remain partially or totally open to heal by second intention. Bandages were applied in all dogs. Most bandages were reinforced with a splint device. Grafting procedures es or internal fixation devices were not used in initial treatment of the injuries. In the study reported here, healing time ranged from 2.0 to 8.7 weeks, depending on the size and depth of the wound and type of c losure used. Mean number of anesthetic and surgical procedures was 1.7 per dog, and the mean number of rechecks after discharge from the hos pital was 5.5 per dog. Outcome was consider-ed excellent or good in 89 of 98 (91%) dogs; these dogs were clinically normal or had only minor functional abnormalities after their injuries healed. Outcome was poo r in 9 of 60 (15%) dogs.