The use of acupuncture beads to control exuberant granulation tissue in equine skin wounds: A preliminary study

Skin lacerations on the hind legs of horses often cause large defects on the cranial surface of the hock and cannon regions. The treatment of these present significant logistic problems due to the amount of movement of the area and the difficulties of bandaging and immobilisation, as well as a tendency to form exuberant granulation tissue (or ‘proud flesh’) Acupuncture beads were used as a means of suppressing granulation and maximising epithelial ingrowth, using the principle that ‘acupuncture has been shown to help bring the body back towards normality’. The aim in these cases was healing of the skin lesions with the least effort and cost possible. The technique eliminated the need for resection of any granulation tissue after the beads were implanted, the amount of bandaging was drastically reduced and eliminated in a lot of cases, and the results were cosmetically very acceptable and functional. Digital photography and measurements of the changes in the size of the lesions were used to document the results. This study shows that the formation of exuberant granulation tissue or ‘proud flesh’ in equine skin wounds on the cranial surface of the hock and cannon bone can be controlled by a single acupuncture bead treatment. Long‐term follow‐up of the cases over 18+ months confirms the ongoing effects of the acupuncture beads, resulting in the completion of wound healing and reduction of fibrosis.