The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of topical phenytoin therapy
(spray) on the wound healing in equines. The study was divided into two parts,
experimental and clinical parts; 1) Experimental part, to evaluate the effect of topical
phenytoin therapy (spray) on cutaneous incisional wound healing in donkeys. Six
donkeys were subjected to cutaneous square incision 3x3 cm made over the skin of the
back of the animal, three wounds on each animal, these wounds were divided into
three groups one in each group, ( the group consisted of six wounds, one in each
animal). Group A, treated with phenytoin spray (HEALOAL) R; Group B, treated
with antibiotic spray (Bivatracin) R and Group C, untreated control group. The
treated groups received daily topical application of the spray until that day the
wounds were closed completely. For computation of the percentage of wound healing,
the area of the wound was measured in all groups (A, B and C) at the beginning of the
experiments and every 3 days until the day of complete healing, day 18,21&27
consequently. Tissue specimens were collected from the wounded area after complete
healing for histopathological investigations. The percentages of wound healing were
calculated after measurement of the area of the wound. Significant differences in
wound closure times between the treated and untreated groups were detected in days
9,12 and 15 days after the start of treatment. There were no significant differences in
wound closure times between the treated groups. All wounds treated with PHT spray
healed significantly faster than the other untreated wounds. The histopathological
results showed improvement in the wound architecture of the group treated with PHT
compared to those treated wounds with antibiotic spray and untreated group. 2)
Clinical part, was performed by topical application of PHT spray on 25 clinical cases
suffering from different varieties of skin wounds, after obtaining confirmative results
for the effect of topical application of PHT on promoting healing of the wounds of
equines in the experimental part. The result of gross examination had revealed that
these wounds were not contracted, uniform healing with reduction of the wound
healing time. It is concluded that phenytoin has little significant effect on the rate of
wound healing, but has a promoting effect on the healing of wounds. |
