Treatment of degloving injuries with autogenous full thickness mesh scrotal free grafts

J. E. Harris; S. Dhupa

doi:10.3415/VCOT-07-04-0029

Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Inhaltsverzeichnis

Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2008; 21(04): 378-381
DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-07-04-0029

Case Report

Schattauer GmbH

Treatment of degloving injuries with autogenous full thickness mesh scrotal free grafts

Autoren

J. E. Harris

¹California Veterinary Specialists, Surgical Department, Carlsbad, California, USA
S. Dhupa

¹California Veterinary Specialists, Surgical Department, Carlsbad, California, USA

Abstract

Summary

In this report, we evaluated the effectiveness of scrotal tissue as an autogenous free skin graft to treat cutaneous degloving injuries of the distal limb in dogs. Surgery was performed on two male intact dogs with distal extremity degloving wounds. Dog #1 had a tarsal degloving wound with exposure of the distal tibial and tarsal bones. Dog #2 had a degloving injury over the metacarpals. Wounds were treated with daily wetto- dry bandages in order to develop a healthy bed of granulation tissue at the graft recipient site. Scrotal ablation castration was performed once the recipient site had been prepared. Subcutaneous and adipose tissue were excised from the scrotal graft and mesh slits were created. The graft was applied to the recipient site with monofilament absorbable simple interrupted sutures. Bandaging was performed postoperatively, and bandage changes occurred four, seven, nine and 11 days postoperatively. Follow-up was performed at 30 days. In dog #1, the tarsal degloving injury graft had first intention healing with 100% graft take on day 11. In dog #2, the metacarpal degloving injury graft had 90% graft take on day nine, with second intention healing adjacent to the fifth digit pad. The scrotum is often discarded at the time of scrotal ablation castration. Distal extremity wounds can be successfully treated with free skin grafts. In male dogs, the scrotum is a viable option as a full thickness mesh free graft for distal extremity reconstructive surgery.

Keywords

Free graft - skin graft - degloving injury - scrotum - dog

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Referenzen

References
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