ADVANCES IN WOUND-HEALING IN SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE - CURRENT STATUS AND LINES OF DEVELOPMENT

In the past 5 years advances in the management of wounds in dogs and c ats have included the development of materials and techniques used to enhance the healing of both open and closed wounds. New topical and lo cally injected medications as well as new bandaging materials have bee n evaluated. The use of omental flaps to enhance wound healing has bee n found to be promising. Ultrasonography has been found useful in asse ssing wound tissues to guide treatment. Because tension is a major fac tor in dealing with wound closure, skin expanders, skin stretchers, pr esutures and adjustable horizontal mattress sutures have been describe d as means of overcoming tension. Recently completed research projects at the Scott-Ritchey Research Center studied the wound-healing effect s of fibrin sealants, topical bovine collagen, omega-3 fatty acid-enri ched diets and magnetic field therapy. Projects underway are evaluatin g the healing effects of a new biological tissue adhesive, a macrophag e stimulant and a thromboxane synthestase inhibitor. Parameters for ev aluating wound healing have included histopathology, tensiometry, plan imetry, laser Doppler image scanning, biochemistry and immunohistochem istry.