Basic principles in the management of injuries

Traumatic wounds represent one of the most frequent reasons of consult in veterinary surgery. The ignorance regarding the basic treatment principles that rule these accidents produce complications, with consequences regarding the animal's function or aesthetics. In the clinical practice with domestic animals wounds such as lacerations, avulsions, punctures and incisions are often seen. Understanding the etiological mechanisms that produce the wounds allows viewing the magnification of the lesion, concerning the quantity of the necrotic tissue and the contamination grade. These mechanisms are key factors when defining treatment and the type of suture to employ. In small animals, avulsions are common due to car accidents, wounds characterized by having considerable contaminated necrotic tissue; while in horses, the punctures in the limbs sometimes transport microorganisms deep in the tissues and involve synovial structures of the joint capsules or tendinouses sheaths with great consequences if they are not urgently treated. Otherwise, it is essential for the practitioner to know the tissular healing phenomenon and the way it can be adversely affected when medications, especially disinfectants, are not used properly. The objective of this article is to discuss the most essential therapeutic concepts regarding injury management.