Superficial, nonhealing corneal ulcers in horses: 23 cases (1989-2003)

Objective To characterize superficial, nonhealing corneal ulcers in the horse and to assess the affect of age, breed, sex, inciting cause of the ulcer, and treatment on healing time of these ulcers. Design Retrospective study. Animals Twenty‐three horses with superficial, nonhealing corneal ulcerations. Procedure Medical records from 1989 to 2003 of horses diagnosed with superficial, nonhealing corneal ulcers were reviewed. Signalment, duration of clinical signs, ophthalmic abnormalities, treatment and response to treatment were recorded. Horses were treated, in addition to medical therapy, using debridement, debridement and grid keratotomy, superficial keratectomy, and superficial keratectomy with conjunctival graft placement. Results Mean age ± SD of horses was 13.7 ± 5.8 years. The mean time of presence of the corneal ulceration was 38.9 ± 21.3 days. Mean time to complete re‐epithelialization of the corneal ulcers after treatment was 20 ± 14.7 days. Horses treated with debridement alone, grid keratotomy and superficial keratectomy healed in a mean time of 15.3 ± 14.6 days, 16 ± 12.6 days, and 22.8 ± 6.7 days, respectively. Conclusions and clinical relevance Horses treated with a single debridement at initial evaluation healed in a significantly shorter time period than horses treated with grid keratotomy or superficial keratectomy. The latter two procedures may be beneficial in the treatment of nonhealing ulceration in horses, but the results of this study suggest that these procedures should only be performed following failure of the ulcer to heal after epithelial debridement.     

Results of grid keratotomy, superficial keratectomy and debridement for the management of persistent corneal erosions in 92 dogs

Ninety-two cases of persistent corneal erosions in dogs were analyzed for breed, gender, age and which eye was affected. The results of the treatment of 92 persistent corneal erosions in dogs by superficial keratectomy (SK), grid keratotomy (GK), or debridement with a sterile dry cotton swab are presented. These techniques gave better rates of healing than have been previously reported. All cases of persistent corneal erosions healed in this study. However, it must be noted that three cases treated with debridement only failed to heal after several treatments and were eventually treated with SK. After one procedure 80 out of 92 (87%) had healed. After one procedure, 63% of cases treated with debridement healed, 100% of cases treated with SK healed, and 85% of cases treated with GK healed. At the first postoperative visit, 88% (21/24 cases) of ulcers treated by SK had healed, and 75% (39/52 cases) of ulcers treated by GK had healed. Only 25% of the persistent corneal erosions had healed at the first visit after debridement. All 24 cases of persistent corneal erosions treated with SK healed after one treatment in a mean +/- SD of 9.3 +/- 3.9 days (median of 7 days). Fifty-two cases were managed with GK; 44 (83%) of these healed with one procedure and eight cases required a second GK procedure to resolve. A mean +/- SD of 13.4 +/- 5.1 days (median of 11.5 days) following GK was required for the persistent corneal erosions to heal. Nineteen cases were initially managed by debridement with a dry cotton swab under local anesthesia. Sixteen out of these 19 debridement cases healed (giving an overall healing rate of 84%) in a mean +/- SD time of 23.4 +/- 11.1 days (median 21.5). There were three cases that did not heal with debridement. These cases were debrided at 10-20 day intervals for 30-60 days, and were then treated with SK. Two of these cases healed within 7 days, the other case required 18 days to heal. Sixty-three per cent of persistent corneal erosions treated with debridement healed after one procedure; however, only four out of 19 cases (21%) were healed at the first revisit. Complications were rare: corneal edema occurred in two cases following multiple GK, and excessive granulation tissue in one case was managed with a SK. There was the occurrence of an ulcer adjacent to the surgery site in four cases, two cases following GK and two cases following SK.     

Multiple striate keratotomy: a treatment for corneal erosions caused by epithelial basement membrane disease

Objective To study the efficacy of multiple striate keratotomy for the treatment of persistent corneal erosions suspected to be caused by primary corneal epithelial basement membrane disease.
Design A retrospective study.
Animals 16 dogs, three cats and one Australian dingo.
Procedure A technique called multiple striate keratotomy was used to treat twenty animals suffering from persistent corneal erosions.
Results All persistent corneal erosions healed with only one treatment. Most cases healed within 2 weeks. One case developed a second erosion in the same eye but in a different position to the original erosion.
Conclusions Multiple striate keratotomy is a safe, effective and well tolerated technique for the treatment of persistent corneal erosions thought to be caused by corneal epithelial basement membrane disease.     

Equine wound management: are there significant differences in healing at different sites on the body?

Abstract Trunk/body wounds heal rapidly with prominent Contraction while wounds on the limb commonly fail to heal or heal slowly by centripetal epithelialization. often with insignificant contraction. Chronic exuberant granulating wounds on the limbs heal well after grafting from donor sites on the trunk. Indolent wounds are less common but may granulate significantly following moist wound-healing management. Sarcoid transformation is an increasingly important cause of healing failure. Sarcoid transformations on the trunk are commonly verrucose while those on the limb are usually aggressive and fibroblastic. The primary objective of wound management should be to encourage rapid progression from acute inflammation to repair without intervention of chronic inflammation which is a significant factor in the pathophysiology of wound healing failure. Wounds fail to heal because there is disruption of the normal delicate balance of growth factors and inflammatory mediators. Wounds should be managed in such a way as to restore the balance of healing processes without damaging any of the cells involved in healing. Resumen Las heridas localizadas en el cuerpo o tronco curan rapidamente con contracción elevada, mientras que las de las extremidades no curan o curan lentamente por epitelización centrípeta, a menudo con contracción insignificante. Las heridas crónicas con tejido de granulación exhuberantes en las extremidades curan bien después de injertos a partir de áreas del tronco. Las heridas indolentes son menos frecuentes pero pueden granular significativamente después de un manejo húmedo de la curacion de la herida. La transformación sarcoidal es una causa cada vez más frecuente de fracaso de la curación. Las transformaciones sarcoidales en el tronco son generalmente de tipo verrucoso mientras que las de las extremidades son normalmente agresivas y fibroblásticas. El objetivo principal del manejo de heridas tendría que ser la estimulación de una progresión rápida de una inflamación aguda a la resolución sin intervención de inflamación crónica, que es un factor significativo en la patofisiología del fracaso en la curación de heridas. Las heridas no curan porque se produce una alteración en el frægil equilibrio normal de factores de crecimiento y mediadores inflamatorios. Las heridas tendrian que ser manejadas de forma que se restaure el equilibrio del proceso curativo sin dañar ninguna de las células implicadas en la curacion. [Knottenbelt, D.C. Equine wound management: are there significant differences in healing at different sites on the body? (Manejo de heridas equinas: existen diferencias significativas en la curación en diferentes areas cutaneas?). Veterinar.): Dermatology 1997; 8 : 273–290] Zusammenfassung Wunden am Rumpf heilen schnell und mit deutlicher Kontraktion, während sich Wunden an den Gliedmassen oft nur geringfügig zusammenziehen und entweder gar nicht oder nur langsam vom Rande her epithelisieren. Chronische, stark wuchernde Wunden an den Gliedmassen heilen nach Gewebetransplantation vom Rumpf zufriedenstellend. Indolente Wunden sind weniger häfig, können aber nach benetzender Wundversorgung deutlich granulieren. Sarkoide Transformation ist ein wichtiger Grund für Wundheilungstörungen. Sarkoide Transformationen am Rumpf sind gewöhnlich warzig, jene an den Gliedmassen üblicherweise aggressiv und fibroblastisch. Das wichtigste Ziel der Wundversorgung sollte es sein, eine schnelle Entwicklung von akuter Entzündung zur Heilung zu fördern, ohne in die chronische Entzündung einzugreifen, die ein massgeblicher Faktor in der Störung der Windheilung darstellt. Der Grund für eine nichtheilende Wunde ist eine Störung des enipfindlichen Gleichgewichts zwischen Wachstumsfaktoren und Entzündungsmediatoren. Wundversorgung soll das Gleichgewicht des Heilungsprozesses wiederherstellen, ohne Zellen zu beschädigen, die zur Wundheilung beitragen. [Knottenbelt, D.C. Equine wound management: are there significant differences in healing at different sites on the body? (Wundversorgung beim Pferd: Sind signifikante Heilungsunterschiede an verschiedenen Körperstellen vorhanden?). Veterinary Dermatology 1997; 8 : 273–290] Résumé Les plaies affectant le tronc cicatrisent rapidement avec une contraction proéminente tandis que les plaies des membres cicatrisent ma1 ou lentement avec une épithélialisation centripète, et souvent avec une contraction insignifiante. Les plaies présentant une granulation chronique exhubérante sur les membres cicatrisent bien après greffe à partir d'un fragment prélevé sur le tronc. Les plaies atones sonl moins fréquentes, mais peuvent présenter un tissu de granulation significatif après application de pansements humides. La transformation en sarcoïde est une cause de plus en plus importante d'échec de cicatrisation. Les transformations en sarcoïdes sur le tronc sont fréquemment verruqueuses, alors que celles localisées sur les membres sont généralement agressives et fibroblastiques. Le but premier du traitement d'une plaie est de promouvoir la progression rapide d'une inflammation aigüe en cicatrisation sans passage par l'inflammation chronique qui est un facteur significatif dans la pathophysiologie de l'échec de cicatrisation des plaies. Les plaies ne cicatrisent pas parce qu'il y a un déséquilibre de la balance délicate entre facteurs de croissance et médiateurs de l'inflammation. Les plaies doivent être traitées de manière à restaurer l'équilibre des processus de cicatrisation sans altération des cellules impliquées dans l'inflammation. [Knottenbelt, D.C. Equine wound management: are there significant differences in healing at different sites on the body? (Traitement des plaies équines: y-a-t-il des différences significatives de cicatrisation en fonction de la topographie corporelle?). Veterinary Dermatology 1997; 8 : 273–290]     

Induction of feline flea allergy dermatitis and the incidence and histopathological characteristics of concurrent indolent lip ulcers

The objectives of this study were to characterize the role of intermittent vs. continual flea exposure in the development of flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) in cats, assess the accuracy of intradermal skin testing (IDST) and in vitro testing, and document the incidence and histopathological features of indolent lip ulcers. Ten flea‐naive cats were divided into two groups. One group received intermittent flea exposure for 120 days. Thereafter, both groups of cats received continuous flea exposure for 120 days. In vitro testing for flea salivary antibody and IDST utilizing both whole flea antigen and flea salivary antigen were performed. Eight of 10 cats developed clinical signs of FAD within 3 months and five of these eight cats developed lip ulcers which where characterized histopathologically by ulceration with predominantly neutrophilic inflammation and surface bacterial colonization. There was no association between the presence or absence of clinical signs and positive IDST or in vitro results, and no difference in the development of clinical signs was noted between the two groups of cats.     

Marginal zone lymphoma in a dog

A 13-year-old spayed female American Cocker Spaniel was presented for evaluation of a cough and weight loss. Physical exam revealed generalized lymphadenopathy. The patient was diagnosed with marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) on histopathology of an extirpated lymph node. This report demonstrates an unusual case of a pleomorphic neoplastic population documented on cytologic evaluation that had moncytoid features and peripheral blood involvement; a previously undocumented IgG1 monoclonal gammopathy was also an interesting feature of this canine MZL. The patient did not undergo chemotherapy for lymphoma and was euthanized over 4 years after the initial presentation.     

Histologic evaluation of the immediate effects of diamond burr debridement in experimental superficial corneal wounds in dogs

Purpose To evaluate the corneal changes immediately after diamond burr debridement of superficial corneal wounds in dogs. Spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defects (SCCEDs) are the most common form of canine recurrent corneal ulcers. The diamond burr has been used in the management of corneal lesions in humans since 1983. Recently, it has been successfully used in the treatment of SCCEDs in dogs; however, little has been documented as to its mechanism of action. Methods Five adult female research dogs euthanized for reasons unrelated to the study were included, providing 10 normal eyes. An excimer laser spatula was used for epithelial removal after delineation with an 8 mm punch biopsy trephine. Diamond burr debridement was performed for 30 and 45 s in five eyes each (groups 1 and 2 respectively). The procedure was performed on the ventral half of the experimental defect as well as ventral normal cornea, immediately after euthanasia, and prior to enucleation. Samples were processed routinely for histologic evaluation and stained with periodic acid–Schiff. Results No stromal defects could be identified under light microscopy. In experimental corneal wounds, multi‐focal areas remained covered by the epithelial basement membrane (BM) after diamond burr treatment in both groups (group 1 = 48%±16SD, group 2 = 26%±12SD). Removal of BM on group 2 was significantly higher than group 1 (P < 0.05). Conclusions The diamond burr allows a safe method of debridement and does not create defects beyond the epithelial BM in corneal wounds in normal dogs. Evaluation of the diamond burr debridement in cases of SCCEDs is warranted.     

Ulcerative keratitis associated with qualitative tear film abnormalities in cats

Three cats with indolent corneal ulcers and one cat with bilateral corneal sequestration and normal aqueous tear production were found to have rapid tear break-up times (BUTs). Tear BUTs in clinically affected cats averaged 2.5 ± 1.29 s and 2.33 ± 0.58 s for the right and left eyes, respectively. Palpebral conjunctival biopsies were harvested from consistent sites from each eye of affected cats ( n  = 7 affected eyes), and age-and breed-matched controls ( n  = 2 unaffected eyes). Light microscopy revealed a marked decrease to complete absence of conjunctival goblet cells (average goblet cell (GC):epithelial cell (EC) density = 18:50), conjunctival epithelial dysplasia, squamous metaplasia, and neutrophilic and mononuclear cell submucosal infiltration in affected cats. Specimens from the control cats had an average GC:EC density of 34:50, and minimal submucosal inflammatory infiltrate. The corneas ( n  = 7 eyes) healed following surgical keratectomy with ( n  = 2 eyes) or without ( n  = 1 eye) conjunctival pedicle flaps, superficial keratectomy and striate keratotomy with ( n  = 2 eyes) or without ( n  = 2 eyes) third eyelid flaps, and mucinomimetic tear supplementation ( n  = 5 eyes). Goblet cell regeneration was confirmed after 5 months of mucinomimetic supplementation ( n  = 2 eyes). The etiology for these mucin deficiencies remains unknown.     

Management of spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defects (SCCEDs) in dogs with diamond burr debridement and placement of a bandage contact lens

Objective To describe the outcome of canine spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defects (SCCED) treated with diamond burr debridement (DBD) and bandage contact lens placement (BCL). Animal studied Forty eyes of 36 dogs presenting to a single private practice. Procedures A retrospective review of medical records was performed. Cases were eligible for inclusion if they were newly diagnosed with SCCED by a veterinary ophthalmologist and treated with DBD/BCL. All patients received a complete ocular examination followed by DBD using a battery‐powered, handheld motorized burr (Algerbrush^®, Alger Equipment Company, Lago Vista, TX, USA). A BCL was placed post‐debridement in all patients. Data were analyzed for sex, age, breed, duration of clinical signs prior to DBD; number of debridements required before healing was achieved; contact lens retention, complications attributed to DBD, and additional surgical interventions were required to achieve healing. Results The median time to first recheck examination was 7 days (IQR 7–9 days) with 28/40 (70%) of cases healed at this examination. The mean time to second recheck examination was 15.5 ± 5.5 days with 37/40 (92.5%) healed by this examination. The median time to final recheck examination was 19 days (IQR 18–35.5 days) with a range of 18–52 days. All cases resolved by the third and final recheck examination. A second DBD/BCL was performed in 5/40 (12.5%) of cases. The BCL retention rate was 95% over all examination time points. No case required a keratectomy or other surgical intervention to achieve healing. The only complication observed was one case of suspected bacterial keratitis post‐DBD/BCL. Conclusions Results suggest that DBD/BCL is safe and effective for treatment of canine SCCED.