RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGICAL TECHNIQUES FOR CLOSURE OF CRITICAL ABDOMINAL SKIN DEFECTS IN DOGS
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Date
2021
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Abstract
The present study was carried out on the clinical cases of tumours of abdominal skin and mammary gland brought to the small animal surgery outpatient unit of Veterinary Clinical Complex, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal. A total of 24 animals aged between 6 and 14 years with selected tumours more than 5cm in size with or without involvement of regional lymph node and without distant metastasis were selected for the study. Detailed clinical, hematobiochemical, fine needle aspiration cytology of tumour and radiographic examinations were done pre-operatively.
All the 24 animals were randomly divided into four groups. Group I animals were subjected for advancement skin flap without platelet rich plasma, while group II with platelet rich plasma, group III animals were subjected for rotational skin flap without platelet rich plasma while group IV animals with platelet rich plasma. Planimetry of tumour and flap was done using biological skin marker. Surgical excision of tumour mass was performed with clean histological margins. Flaps were created and apposed to sew the skin edges closer to minimize the skin tension using walking sutures. The critical skin defects were reconstructed using skin flap techniques and drains sheets were placed intra-operatively.
Subjective evaluation of the skin flap was done on 3rd, 6th and 9th post-operative days based on colour, dermal bleeding test, pain sensation test, hair growth test and atropine absorption test. Histopathological evaluation of the skin flap was done on 7th, 14th and 21st post-operative days. Most common post-operative complications were hematoma, dehiscence, limb edema, subcutaneous emphysema, flap necrosis and seroma. The Mean ± SE values of healing of the flap in days in Groups I, II, III and IV were16.33 ± 0.49, 17.83 ± 1.42,17.66 ± 0.88 and 16 ± 0 respectively. All the animals recovered uneventfully with good cosmetic appearance.