Steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for wounds and traumatic inflammation

Abstract

Extract

Wounds of the skin and underlying tissues are common problems in both large and small animal practice, are frequently infected, and must therefore heal by granulation. This process is often impaired by movement, irritation, infection, necrosis, poor circulation, and even the inflammatory process itself. The latter, with its traditional cardinal signs, reflects the mobilization of the body's defences necessary for ultimate resolution. The as sociated pain, swelling, and interference with function may, however, have adverse effects. The clinician is thus faced with the need to maintain a delicate balance between adequate tissue defence, healthy granulation and repair on the one hand, and excessive or chronic inflammation, pain, swelling, impaired function, and circulation on the other. The therapeutic regimen, in addition to specific surgical procedures, should manipulate such target areas as etiologic factors, including those secondary to the initial insult, the mediators of inflammation, the non specific inflammatory process, and reparative processes. Such a regimen can well necessitate a “therapeutic cocktail”. During the last several years, work has been conducted on various anti-inflammatory (steroidal and non-steroidal) drugs, dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), and antihistamines(10) (11). This pharmacological polyglot, along with the complexity of inflammation, has created a need to clarify a confusing interaction and to justify the logic of utilizing such drugs either alone or in combination. It is in this context that controlled evaluations of parenteral and topical combinations of drugs in the horse, dog and cat have been conducted.