Abstract
Skin injuries are frequent in horses, and one of the treatments used for such injuries is the platelet-rich plasma (PRP). The objective of this experiment was to macroscopically and microscopically investigate the process of healing by second intention in skin wounds of eight healthy gelding crossbred horses treated (T) or untreated (UT) with a single dose of leukocyte-poor PRP (LP-PRP). Three square-shaped wounds were induced in both gluteal regions. After 12 h of wound induction, 0.5 mL LP-PRP was administered in each border of the lesion in one of gluteal region. Contralateral wounds were UT. Six skin biopsies were obtained with a 6-mm Punch. Macroscopic variables of one of the non-biopsied wounds were evaluated. Samples were processed for histomorphometric evaluation. No difference was observed between the time required for wound closure in the two groups. Histomorphometric analysis performed 14 days after wound induction revealed higher (p = 0.034) angiogenesis and number (p = 0.0179) of total leukocytes in T wounds. Fibrocytes numbers increased significantly (p = 0.023) on day 7 after injury in the UT group. General microscopic evaluation performed independently of scores and morphometric analysis revealed that the majority of the T wounds showed better healing variables in the sections analyzed after complete macroscopic closure of the wound. A single injected dose of LP-PRP 12 h after wound induction in horses does not interfere with the wound healing process but reveals that majority of the T wounds exhibit better healing histomorphometric characteristics.
Highlights
The skin is an essential organ for body protection
There was no difference (p > 0.05) between the maximum time required for wound closure and the highest (900, 800, 450, and 350) or lowest (100, 150, 150, and 50) amounts of leukocytes/ L in LP-platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for all eight animals
No significant correlation was found (r = −0.08; p > 0.05) between the time required for wound healing and the concentration of leukocytes in leukocyte-poor PRP (LP-PRP) from each horse on the day of treatment
Summary
The skin is an essential organ for body protection. Skin thickness in horses ranges from 1 to 6.3 mm depending on the site, and it is thicker on the lumbosacral and gluteal regions. In addition to acting as a barrier against microorganisms, it represents a passive barrier against fluid losses, which favors the maintenance of homeostasis. Skin wounds are common in the equine species. Depending on the site and extent of the injury, it can partly or completely compromise the use of horses in sport activities or employment practices. Promoting rapid and high-quality skin healing is a challenge in medical and surgical equine clinics
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