The objective of this study was to determine if topical antimicrobials silver sulfadiazine and povidone-iodine ointment increase rates of healing of equine distal limb wounds that heal by second intention. Second, to determine the effect of bandaging with these topical antimicrobials.

Six healthy adult horses were used to create thirty-six, 2.5 cm2 standardized full-thickness metacarpal/tarsal skin wounds. Each wound was exposed to a single treatment: 1.0 % silver sulfadiazine cream bandaged (SSD-B), 1.0 % silver sulfadiazine slow release matrix bandaged (SDX-B), 1.0% silver sulfadiazine slow release matrix not bandaged (SDX-NB), povidone-iodine ointment bandaged (PI-B), untreated control bandaged (C-B) and untreated control not bandaged (C-NB) until healing. Wound area, granulation tissue area and perimeter were measured with planimetry software from digital images obtained at each observation. Exuberant granulation tissue was excised when present. The days until healing, rate of healing parameter, rates of contraction and epithelialization were compared among groups using pair-wise analysis of least square means.

The healing parameters and mean days to healing did not statistically differ between groups. Analysis of percent wound contraction and rate of epithelialization between groups was similar. Mean number of days to healing ranged from 83 (PI-B and C-B) to101 (SSD-B). All bandaged wounds produced exuberant granulation tissue requiring excision compared to none of the unbandaged. The identified rates of epithelialization and wound contraction found insignificant differences between antimicrobial treated versus untreated wounds. Similarly, rates of epithelialization and wound contraction found insignificant differences between bandaged versus unbandaged wounds. Topical povidone-iodine and silver sulfadiazine did not increase rates of healing under bandage.

The 1.0% silver sulfadiazine slow release matrix not bandaged (SDX-NB) adhered well to dry wounds. Silver sulfadiazine slow-release matrix provides does not impede wound healing and provides good adherence to dry wounds not amenable to bandaging.