Randomised clinical trial showing the curative effect of bandaging on M2-stage lesions of digital dermatitis in dairy cows.

OBJECTIVES AND DESIGN: This trial evaluated the effect of bandaging of acute painful ulcerative bovine digital dermatitis (DD) lesion (stage M2) in dairy cows, tested using two different topical treatments. DESIGN: Randomised clinical trial. SETTING: This study was conducted using Holstein-Friesian cows ranging in age from heifers to fourth lactation in a single dairy herd and diagnosed with acute ulcerative DD lesions (stage M2) on the first examination (week 0). Cows were randomly assigned into either a non-bandaged or bandaged group across two treatment conditions: topical chlortetracycline spray (CTC) and Intra Hoof-Fit Gel (IHF). Lesions received standardised bandaging and treatment on a weekly basis. Unhealed lesions could receive up to five repeated treatments, at weekly intervals, within a four-week period. Both M-stage and locomotion were also evaluated and scored weekly. Cows with healthily formed skin (stage M0) were deemed healed and subsequently released from the study. RESULTS: In total, 163 M2 lesions were diagnosed at week 0. Bandaged M2 lesions had a significantly higher probability of cure than non-bandaged lesions regardless of treatment type (HR: 4.1; P<0.001; 95 per cent CI: 2.5 to 6.8). Most healing occurred within the first three weeks of trial. Furthermore, bandaged lesions (group 2 and group 4) were significantly less likely to progress into the chronic hyperkeratotic or proliferative stage (M4) than non-bandaged lesions in group 1 and group 3 (HR: 0.10; P<0.001; 95 per cent CI: 0.04 to 0.22). Out of concern for the cow's wellbeing, this study investigated the effects of bandaging on locomotion. Bandaging had no effect on locomotion for either cows treated with CTC (group 1: median Sprecher score, 2; IQR=1-2; group 2: median Sprecher score, 2; IQR=1-3; P=0.3) or IHF (group 3: median Sprecher score, 2; IQR=1-2; group 4: median Sprecher score, 2; IQR=1-3; P=0.3).

Randomized clinical trial evaluating the effect of bandaging on the healing of sole ulcers in dairy cattle.

This randomized clinical trial investigated the effect of bandaging on 56 uncomplicated sole ulcers (SU) among a sample of 52 dairy cows. Following therapeutic hoof trimming and povidone-iodine treatment, all cows received a wooden block on the unaffected claw and were randomly assigned into either a bandaged or non-bandaged group. The bandaging process was standardized and applied by the same veterinarian. Wound size and locomotion were measured weekly. Overall, 19 of 32 SU (59.4%) in the non-bandaged group were healed at week 4 compared to 7 of 24 ulcers (29.2%) in the bandaged group. Healing was significantly higher for non-bandaged than bandaged SU (P = 0.024). Bandaging had no effect on locomotion (P = 0.9). Cows with a lower locomotion (Sprecher 1 + 2) had significantly smaller lesion sizes (median lesion size, 0.5 cm², IQR = 0.21 to 0.92 cm²) than animals with locomotion score 3-5 (median lesion size, 0.9 cm², IQR = 0.42 to 1.81 cm²; P < 0.001). A multivariate cox proportional hazard regression indicated that bandaging and parity had a significant effect on healing. Specifically, bandaged SU had a significantly lower hazard ratio (HR) to cure compared to non-bandaged SU (HR = 0.32; P = 0.01; 95% CI = 0.13 to 0.78). Furthermore, cows with parity ≥3 had a significantly higher HR to cure compared to cows in their first lactation (HR = 2.73; P = 0.025; 95% CI = 1.14 to 6.56).