Sl. Beardsley et Sc. Schrader, TREATMENT OF DOGS WITH WOUNDS OF THE LIMBS CAUSED BY SHEARING FORCES - 98 CASES (1975-1993), Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 207(8), 1995, pp. 1071-1075
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.