Decubital shoulder ulcers or shoulder abscesses are wounds that occur at the point of the shoulder where the bony process of the scapula contacts a hard surface. The lesions range in severity from superficial to bone exposure and proliferation. Soresare typically found on lactating sows and are a result of pressure-induced ischemia. Decubital shoulder ulcers have a prevalence ranging from 0-34% in sow farms using gestation crates.13 Although the ulcers present a welfare concern, there are no specifically approved drugs available for treatment. The goal of this study was to test the efficacy of decubital shoulder ulcer treatments by evaluating changes in wound surface area and healing stage scores with considerations for FDA guidelines for food animal drug use.
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