[Treatment of infected wounds and abscesses in bovine limbs with Ligasano-polyurethane-soft foam dressing material].

The objective of this report is to present the most important indications for the use of Ligasano-polyurethane-soft-foam dressing material in the treatment of infected wounds in cattle. For this study, 28 cattle were selected, which were treated at the clinic (2000-2003) for infected cut, puncture and laceration wounds on the limbs, purulent tarsal hygromas, large abscesses in the tarsal, crural and thigh regions, and purulent tenosynovitis of the digital flexor tendon sheath caused by penetrating puncture wounds. After routine wound cleansing, debridement or adequate surgery with wound lavage, Ligasano-polyurethane-soft-foam (Ligamed Medical Produkte, Cadolzburg-Wachendorf, Germany) was applied as a primary wound dressing instead of the conventional cotton gauze swabs or as drainage material in all these wounds. The porous surface structure of this material caused subtle wound debridement and mechanical stimulation of the wound surface increasing exudation and decreasing fibrinous adhesions. The pores ensured good drainage, reduced infection, avoided the accumulation of exudate and the following destruction of the wound surface. In all these indications, except abscesses and purulent hygromas, no or only slight purulent exudation of the treated wounds was observed. Especially in the treatment of purulent tenosynovitis of the digital flexor tendon sheath with tendon resection a rapid healing of these large surgical wounds--often within 2 weeks--was found. The therapeutic effect of Ligasano-polyurethane-soft-foam as a primary wound dressing was so convincing in these bovine patients, that it is now used exclusively as primary wound dressing material for treatment of infected wounds.