SLIDESHOW: Doctors partner to treat burned horse
Skin graft techniques used in human medicine utilized for Northstar?s wounds.
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Northstar, an American paint horse that suffered severe burns to almost half his body after being doused in flammable liquid and set on fire late last summer, has undergone multiple procedures to treat the severe wounds. Samuel Hurcombe, BSc, BVMS, MS, DACVIM, DACVECC, an assistant professor of veterinary clinical sciences at the university has overseen Northstar's care since the horse arrived in Columbus Sept. 5. Hurcombe recently partnered with a human burn specialist to further Northstar's treatment. Photo courtesy of Ohio State University
Larry Jones, MD, a human burn specialist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and Dr. Samuel Hurcombe partnered to execute two skin graft procedures on Northstar. Photo courtesy of Ohio State University
A nurse at The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center preps an injection for Northstar before his surgery. The horse underwent two skin graft procedures usually reserved for human burn patients. Photo courtesy of Ohio State University
The teams at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and The Ohio State University Galbreath Equine Center work together to prep Northstar for surgery. Photo courtesy of Ohio State University
Dr. Jones and Dr. Hurcombe begin surgery on Northstar. The doctors observed one another's surgeries and studied human and veterinary medicine journal articles to prepare for the collaboration, deciding together that Northstar would undergo two large skin graft surgeries. Photo courtesy of Ohio State University
Several people were on hand to record Northstar's historic surgery at The Ohio State University Galbreath Equine Center. Photo courtesy of Ohio State University
Dr. Jones and Dr. Hurcombe work together to execute two skin grafts over a large wound across Northstar's back. Photo courtesy of Ohio State University
Northstar, 7 years old, will likely undergo a series of additional sheet graft surgeries in the next year, just as a human patient would, to completely heal the wound. Photo courtesy of Ohio State University
Dr. Hurcombe will continue to care for Northstar Galbreath Equine Center with the hopes that one day Northstar can return home to enjoy a normal life. Photo courtesy of Ohio State University
