Treatment of dogs with wounds of the limbs caused by shearing forces: 98 cases (1975-1993).

Medical records of 98 dogs with wounds of the limbs caused by shearing forces (shearing wounds) were reviewed. Shearing wounds were reported most often in young dogs of many breeds, and most often resulted from trauma received during an encounter with an automobile. Wounds were located mainly on the distal portion of the limbs, with the most common site being the medial aspect of the tarsus and metatarsus. All injuries resulted in exposure of subcutaneous soft tissues, about three fourths of all injuries resulted in bone or joint exposure, and slightly more than half of the dogs had joint instability. All wounds were lavaged and debrided. Wounds were sutured, using primary closure techniques or methods that allowed the wound to remain partially or totally open to heal by second intention. Bandages were applied in all dogs. Most bandages were reinforced with a splint device. Grafting procedures or internal fixation devices were not used in initial treatment of the injuries. In the study reported here, healing time ranged from 2.0 to 8.7 weeks, depending on the size and depth of the wound and type of closure used. Mean number of anesthetic and surgical procedures was 1.7 per dog, and the mean number of rechecks after discharge from the hospital was 5.5 per dog. Outcome was considered excellent or good in 89 of 98 (91%) dogs; these dogs were clinically normal or had only minor functional abnormalities after their injuries healed. Outcome was poor in 9 of 60 (15%) dogs.

Histologic evaluation of tissue reactivity and absorption in response to a new synthetic fluorescent pigmented polypropylene suture material in rats.

The degree and type of tissue reactivity and the absorption of a new suture material was determined by implantation within rat gluteal muscles. Amount and type of tissue inflammatory reaction was compared among the new suture material, polypropylene, and coated polyamide. Histologic evaluation of the tissues in which sutures were implanted indicated that the new suture material, polypropylene, and coated polyamide had similar amounts and types of reaction at 30 days or less after implantation, but differed after 30 days. The new suture material and polypropylene had an inflammatory reaction zone measuring less than 25% of the high-power field after 60 days, but the coated polyamide still induced reaction greater than 45% of the field at 90 days. At 60 and 90 days after implantation, the new suture material and polypropylene induced a mature fibrous reaction; the reaction to coated polyamide was either immature fibrous or granulomatous, depending on whether there was rupture of the suture coat. There was no observable absorption of the new suture material at 90 days. This study indicated that the new suture material is nonabsorbable and is minimally reactive in rat muscle. The tissue reactions induced by this suture material are similar to those of polypropylene and significantly less than those induced by coated polyamide after 30 days following implantation.