Equine limb wound management with pinch grafting

Abstract

Large excisional wounds located on the distal limbs of horses often undergo complications during the healing process. Exuberant granulation tissue is a potential complication to any excisional wound healing by second intention in the distal limb of a horse. Furthermore, large wounds in this location often cannot contract completely and require skin grafting. Therefore, when managing distal limb wounds in horses, meticulous care must be taken to prevent complications from occurring. Skin grafting is a common procedure used in management of non- healing wounds in horses. Pinch grafting, in particular, is a simple, straightforward and successful method of grafting that can be done on a standing horse. These practical characteristics allow for any equine practitioner to perform this procedure in either a hospital or field setting.