Puncture wounds of the equine hoof - a retrospective study of 53 cases

Puncture wounds of the hoof belong to the most underestimated wounds of hor ses. The small opening of the puncture wound and the mild lameness mostly l eads to a conservative therapy. This study summarises the outcome of 53 cas es of hoof puncture wounds. 23 horses were treated conservatively for at le ast 14 days. The main symptoms were lameness with different amplitudes, a s trong pulsation of the palmar arteries, and a raise in hoof temperature. Th e predominant wounds were found in the hoofs of the hind limb (60%); the mo st affected location of these wounds was in the central and collateral sulc us of the frog (22 cases). The surgical interventions led to a complete hea ling in 42 cases (79%). All cases with a perforation of the hoof joint had a poor prognosis; 3 cases had to be euthanized due to a purulent arthritis of the hoof joint. This study demonstrates that the immediate surgical inte rvention is the proper method for treating puncture wounds of the hoof beca use it offers an excellent method for diagnosing the degree of damage and t he extent of the perforation leading to an accurate treatment and a reducti on in complications associated with these wounds.