A randomized trial for evaluation of bandaging sole abscesses in cattle.

A randomized clinical trial of treatment of sole abscess in cattle was conducted to determine whether bandaging a foot after debridement of an abscess improved outcome. Sixty-six feet from 63 cows were randomly allocated to bandaged or unbandaged groups, and clinical recovery was graded by comparison of lameness at initial examination and at 2 follow-up examinations. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups at entry into the trial or at 1 month after treatment. Unbandaged feet were significantly less lame 1 week after treatment, and this difference was attributed to rapid healing of small lesions in feet of cows in stanchion and tie-stall barns. There was no group in which bandaging improved outcome.