Treatment of Exuberant Granulation Tissue in the Horse Evaluation of Four Methods

Abstract

Four methods of treating granulating wounds on the dorsal aspect of the metacar‐pophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints of ponies were evaluated. The following treatments were used: Group 1—excision of the granulation tissue with no further treatment; Group 2—cryosurgery; Group 3—excision of the granulation tissue and pressure bandage; and Group 4—excision of the granulation tissue and immobilization of the limb with a plaster cast. The wounds in Group 1 healed fastest, without producing exuberant granulation tissue and with only moderate scar fibrosis. The wounds in Group 2 healed without producing exuberant granulation tissue but with marked scarring. Wounds in Groups 3 and 4 took longer (p < 0.001) to heal compared to wounds in Groups 1 and 2. Wounds in Groups 3 and 4 produced exuberant granulation tissue, but the resultant scars were the least fibrotic.