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Equine heel bulb lacerations: 62 cases (2004-2018)
Pearce B Sloan1, Katie A Self2, Qing Kang3
11Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
|August 9, 2022
Summary
Horses with heel bulb lacerations generally have a good prognosis for survival and return to work. Early wound presentation (< 2 days) significantly improved outcome scores, highlighting the importance of prompt veterinary care for equine heel injuries.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Equine Surgery
- Wound Management
Background:
- Heel bulb lacerations are common equine injuries.
- Understanding factors influencing prognosis is crucial for treatment and owner expectations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize clinical findings in horses with heel bulb lacerations.
- To assess the long-term outcomes and prognostic indicators for these injuries.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records from a teaching hospital (February 2004 - October 2018).
- Inclusion of 62 horses with heel bulb lacerations.
- Long-term outcome assessed via owner telephone communication.
Main Results:
- A wound duration of less than 2 days was significantly associated with a higher outcome score (P = .025).
- Synovial structure involvement occurred in 33.9% of cases.
- Of horses with follow-up, 78% returned to their previous level of work.
Conclusions:
- Horses with heel bulb lacerations demonstrate a favorable prognosis for survival and return to work.
- Early intervention for heel bulb lacerations appears to positively influence outcomes.
