Secondary closure of infected abdominal incisions in cattle and horses

Infected abdominal incisions in 7 cattle and 3 horses were resutured with monofilamentous stainless steel retention sutures. After debridement of devitalized and infected tissue, wound edges were apposed with simple interrupted vertical (5 cattle, 3 horses) or horizontal (2 cattle) mattress sutures, placed through all layers of the body wall. Sutures were placed 2 to 3 cm apart over rubber tubing, 3 to 5 cm from wound edges. In 5 of the 10 operations, skin and subcutaneous tissue were left unsutured. The repaired wounds were supported with an encircling elastic roll bandage and sterile compresses. Animals were confined to a box stall for approximately 60 days. Steel sutures and rubber tubing were removed when they no longer provided support, usually 14 to 21 days after placement. Superficial wound infection and local pressure necrosis resulted from the suturing, but resolved with additional surgical or medical treatment, debridement, or irrigation with dilute povidone-iodine solution. Cosmetic and functional healing resulted in 7 of the animals.