A Preliminary Study on Second-Intention Healing of Full-Thickness Wounds on Equine Distal Forelimbs Treated With Maltodextrin

Abstract Equine distal limb wounds may be left to heal by second intention, a potentially slow method of healing. This study evaluated the effect of maltodextrin on second-intention healing of full-thickness equine distal limb wounds. A 4 × 4 cm full-thickness wound was created on the dorsal aspect of the metacarpus of each front limb in 8 horses. Wounds were randomly assigned to the control group (no treatment) or treatment group (maltodextrin applied daily starting one day after wound creation). Wounds were bandaged until the wound bed was filled with granulation tissue, then discontinued. Amount and quality of granulation tissue, amount of epithelialization, and presence of exudate were recorded until wounds were completely epithelialized by an investigator blinded to treatment. Wounds were photographed at each time point and wound area was determined using computer software. A repeated measures two-way ANOVA was performed to analyze wound area data over time. There was no difference in measured parameters over time or at any single time point between treated and control wounds. Treatment was discontinued on day 18 due to persistence of granulation tissue above the level of the epithelium in treated wounds. Treatment of open wounds with maltodextrin on distal limbs of horses promoted persistent excessive granulation tissue formation during day 12–17 following wound creation but did not affect wound healing after its discontinuation. The use of maltodextrin during the appropriate phases of wound healing may reduce initial wound enlargement and could potentially be used to promote granulation tissue formation.