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New page: {{review}} '''Definition: a laceration is a traumatic tearing of the skin in an uncontrolled fashion.''' [[Image:Eyelid laceration.jpg|right|thumb|250px|<small><center>Lacerations are c...
{{review}}
'''Definition: a laceration is a traumatic tearing of the skin in an uncontrolled fashion.'''
[[Image:Eyelid laceration.jpg|right|thumb|250px|<small><center>Lacerations are common at almost every site on the body! Here an eyelid laceration in a middle-aged donkey before and after cleaning is shown. The injury was two days old when it was first seen. (Image courtesy of [http://drupal.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk The Donkey Sanctuary])</center></small>]]
[[Image:Eyelid laceration 2.jpg|right|thumb|250px|<small><center>Injuries involving the eyelids have particular significance for the future function of the eye and so early attention is essential. (Image courtesy of [http://drupal.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk The Donkey Sanctuary])</center></small>]]
Lacerations are the commonest skin injuries in donkeys. Multiple tears
in the skin may be accompanied by bruising but haemorrhage is rarely a
problem.
Management of lacerations usually involves careful wound preparation
and restoration of anatomical integrity by means of sutures or staples.
[[Antibiotics|Antibiotic therapy]] is usually applied for a period of four to six days.
The absence of ‘spare’ (loose) skin on limbs means that large deficits
in these sites require particular care. There is seldom any spare skin that
can be mobilized and so a prolonged recovery and/or expensive surgical
procedures may be expected.
'''Degloving injuries''' are commonest on the upper limb regions. The skin
on the lower limb is probably more firmly attached and seldom ‘degloves’
in the same way as the upper limb and body trunk. These injuries should
be promptly treated to restore as much of the skin as possible to its
original position (even if it is probably non-viable). Degloving of limbs
usually involves at least some horizontal skin laceration and is usually in a
downward direction so that the skin hangs around the limb. The exposed
subcutaneous tissues rapidly become dry and infected but remarkably little
bleeding occurs in most such cases. The blood supply to the upper margin
of the wound is usually intact and so this is less of a problem than the
distal wound margin, which is invariably compromised, especially at the
most central part of the wound margin. Sloughing of the skin along this
margin is common.
The wound should be irrigated with '''copious warm sterile saline''' and
protected from further contamination by application of a '''hydrogel''' to the
exposed tissues. This will minimize dehydration and infection. '''Restoration
of the flap to its normal position''' as far as possible maintains warmth,
prevents further contamination and devitalisation and covers the exposed
tissues with a biological dressing. If feasible, a bandage should be applied
to limit further damage until a detailed examination can be performed.
Movement of the limb should be minimized so that tension on the wound
is reduced as far as possible. Shear forces will be maximal during movement
of the underlying muscles relative to the skin.
The wound should be carefully examined (possibly even under general
anaesthesia) and, after superficial irrigation, all obvious foreign matter
and devitalised subcutaneous tissues are scrupulously removed. Deeper
injuries are treated by lavage and, if indicated, by suturing the defects with
an absorbable suture material of suitable diameter and pattern. Skin should
not be removed unless it is totally devitalised and shredded; this applies
particularly to the eyelids.
Once the deep tissues have been repaired (possibly with drain placement),
the skin is restored to its normal position. Excessive tension on the wound
site will almost always result in wound dehiscence and further complications.
Carefully placed and securely knotted sub-cutaneous ‘walking’ sutures of a
fine absorbable material may allow the wound to be closed without undue
tension and will provide support for the flap of skin. However, if the injury
is more than one or two hours old, the skin will have shrunk significantly and it may be difficult to
restore it to its natural position. Undermining the adjacent attached skin and making small
1 cm long overlapping relieving incisions (running parallel to the wound margins) may permit the
skin to be restored fully to the normal site without any undue tension on the wound margin.
Alternatively, it is sometimes wise not to attempt to restore the skin fully to its position and simply
suture the skin to the underlying tissues, as near as possible to the wound margin without excessive
tension. The uncovered area will then heal by [[Donkey - Fundamentals of healing#Secondary or second intention healing|second intention]] but will of course be much smaller than the original wound and may be amenable to skin grafting in
due course.
The skin wound is closed using '''interrupted horizontal or vertical mattress sutures''' with '''monofilament nylon''' (4 or 5
metric/1 or 2 USP). Tension across the wound site can also be relieved by using supported quill sutures or a stent.
Suitable dressings and bandages and antibiotic therapy are useful in all cases. '''Movement should be restricted''' depending on the extent and type of wound, and dressings should be changed as and when indicated.
Variable necrosis of at least part of the skin margin is commonly present.
In any case the necrotic tissue will eventually need to be removed and the
wound allowed to heal by [[Donkey - Fundamentals of healing#Secondary or second intention healing|second intention]] or by some form of '''grafting'''.
Uneventful healing should take place regardless of the anatomical
location of the wound but can be problematic, especially on the limbs.
Complications may be present such as skin loss or degloving and such
wounds are best regarded as ‘complicated’. The prognosis is less favourable
than for incised wounds because tissue necrosis and sloughing are frequent
complications.
==References==
* Knottenbelt, D. (2008) The principles and practice of wound mamagement In Svendsen, E.D., Duncan, J. and Hadrill, D. (2008) ''The Professional Handbook of the Donkey'', 4th edition, Whittet Books, Chapter 9
{{toplink
|backcolour = D1EEEE
|linkpage =Wound Types - Donkey
|linktext =Wound Types - Donkey
|rspace={{Donkey}}
|pagetype=Donkey
}}
'''Definition: a laceration is a traumatic tearing of the skin in an uncontrolled fashion.'''
[[Image:Eyelid laceration.jpg|right|thumb|250px|<small><center>Lacerations are common at almost every site on the body! Here an eyelid laceration in a middle-aged donkey before and after cleaning is shown. The injury was two days old when it was first seen. (Image courtesy of [http://drupal.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk The Donkey Sanctuary])</center></small>]]
[[Image:Eyelid laceration 2.jpg|right|thumb|250px|<small><center>Injuries involving the eyelids have particular significance for the future function of the eye and so early attention is essential. (Image courtesy of [http://drupal.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk The Donkey Sanctuary])</center></small>]]
Lacerations are the commonest skin injuries in donkeys. Multiple tears
in the skin may be accompanied by bruising but haemorrhage is rarely a
problem.
Management of lacerations usually involves careful wound preparation
and restoration of anatomical integrity by means of sutures or staples.
[[Antibiotics|Antibiotic therapy]] is usually applied for a period of four to six days.
The absence of ‘spare’ (loose) skin on limbs means that large deficits
in these sites require particular care. There is seldom any spare skin that
can be mobilized and so a prolonged recovery and/or expensive surgical
procedures may be expected.
'''Degloving injuries''' are commonest on the upper limb regions. The skin
on the lower limb is probably more firmly attached and seldom ‘degloves’
in the same way as the upper limb and body trunk. These injuries should
be promptly treated to restore as much of the skin as possible to its
original position (even if it is probably non-viable). Degloving of limbs
usually involves at least some horizontal skin laceration and is usually in a
downward direction so that the skin hangs around the limb. The exposed
subcutaneous tissues rapidly become dry and infected but remarkably little
bleeding occurs in most such cases. The blood supply to the upper margin
of the wound is usually intact and so this is less of a problem than the
distal wound margin, which is invariably compromised, especially at the
most central part of the wound margin. Sloughing of the skin along this
margin is common.
The wound should be irrigated with '''copious warm sterile saline''' and
protected from further contamination by application of a '''hydrogel''' to the
exposed tissues. This will minimize dehydration and infection. '''Restoration
of the flap to its normal position''' as far as possible maintains warmth,
prevents further contamination and devitalisation and covers the exposed
tissues with a biological dressing. If feasible, a bandage should be applied
to limit further damage until a detailed examination can be performed.
Movement of the limb should be minimized so that tension on the wound
is reduced as far as possible. Shear forces will be maximal during movement
of the underlying muscles relative to the skin.
The wound should be carefully examined (possibly even under general
anaesthesia) and, after superficial irrigation, all obvious foreign matter
and devitalised subcutaneous tissues are scrupulously removed. Deeper
injuries are treated by lavage and, if indicated, by suturing the defects with
an absorbable suture material of suitable diameter and pattern. Skin should
not be removed unless it is totally devitalised and shredded; this applies
particularly to the eyelids.
Once the deep tissues have been repaired (possibly with drain placement),
the skin is restored to its normal position. Excessive tension on the wound
site will almost always result in wound dehiscence and further complications.
Carefully placed and securely knotted sub-cutaneous ‘walking’ sutures of a
fine absorbable material may allow the wound to be closed without undue
tension and will provide support for the flap of skin. However, if the injury
is more than one or two hours old, the skin will have shrunk significantly and it may be difficult to
restore it to its natural position. Undermining the adjacent attached skin and making small
1 cm long overlapping relieving incisions (running parallel to the wound margins) may permit the
skin to be restored fully to the normal site without any undue tension on the wound margin.
Alternatively, it is sometimes wise not to attempt to restore the skin fully to its position and simply
suture the skin to the underlying tissues, as near as possible to the wound margin without excessive
tension. The uncovered area will then heal by [[Donkey - Fundamentals of healing#Secondary or second intention healing|second intention]] but will of course be much smaller than the original wound and may be amenable to skin grafting in
due course.
The skin wound is closed using '''interrupted horizontal or vertical mattress sutures''' with '''monofilament nylon''' (4 or 5
metric/1 or 2 USP). Tension across the wound site can also be relieved by using supported quill sutures or a stent.
Suitable dressings and bandages and antibiotic therapy are useful in all cases. '''Movement should be restricted''' depending on the extent and type of wound, and dressings should be changed as and when indicated.
Variable necrosis of at least part of the skin margin is commonly present.
In any case the necrotic tissue will eventually need to be removed and the
wound allowed to heal by [[Donkey - Fundamentals of healing#Secondary or second intention healing|second intention]] or by some form of '''grafting'''.
Uneventful healing should take place regardless of the anatomical
location of the wound but can be problematic, especially on the limbs.
Complications may be present such as skin loss or degloving and such
wounds are best regarded as ‘complicated’. The prognosis is less favourable
than for incised wounds because tissue necrosis and sloughing are frequent
complications.
==References==
* Knottenbelt, D. (2008) The principles and practice of wound mamagement In Svendsen, E.D., Duncan, J. and Hadrill, D. (2008) ''The Professional Handbook of the Donkey'', 4th edition, Whittet Books, Chapter 9
{{toplink
|backcolour = D1EEEE
|linkpage =Wound Types - Donkey
|linktext =Wound Types - Donkey
|rspace={{Donkey}}
|pagetype=Donkey
}}