Cutaneous Flaps for Closing Skin Defects in Dogs

Cutaneous flaps are used for closing wounds caused by traumatic accidents, oncological surgery (tumor removal), and burns (thermal, chemical, radiations). Skin grafting has the advantages of requiring just only one surgery for closing the defects once the wound bed is adequately prepared. The objective of the study was to describe and asses the eficiency of local cutaneous flaps for closing skin defects in dogs. Seven dogs underwent reconstruction of soft tissue wounds resulted from traumatic lesion or after large tumors removal. Skin defects were located on the trunk and limbs. Cutaneous local flaps(advancement and rotational) were created by surgical preparations and mobilization the full tickness skin fold to enabling closure of adjacent defects. After wound debridment or tumoral removal a very carefull atraumatic and aseptical preparation of the flaps were performed to preserve vascularization for adecquate blood supply. Cutaneous local flaps proved effective for closing large defects in all dogs. Partial marginal necrosis of a portion of the flap occurred in one dog because of procedure and technique errors, but the concurent remanent defects were adequate to primary closure. The wounds ultimately healed , without major complications. The skin local flaps(advancement and rotational) are a versatile technique that could be use in a variety of locations, depending on skin defects shape and localization. The clinical results are comparable with those reported for advanced reconstructive procedure