Reconstructive Sx Flashcards
Reconstructive surgery is performed to
improve the body’s function, shape & overall health; to remedy disease; & to treat congenital or acquired deformities
Why is the skin important?
- protection against dehydration/overhydration
- barrier to microorganisms, chemicals, etc
- produces Vit A
- stores water & nutrients
- sensory elements permit animal to be aware of its environment
- thermal insulation
- mechanical buffer
What are some common reasons for reconstructive surgery in animals?
wounds, neoplasia, developmental disease
What are the 3 phases of wound healing?
- inflammation
- cellular proliferation/granulation
- remodelling/matureation
How can you optimize wound healing?
- aseptic handling of tissues & equipment
- suitable lavage solutions
- thorough debridement
- appropriate contact layers
- correct bandaging & casting techniques
- proper nutrition
- analgesia
the skin is…
anisotropic
When doing reconstructive surgery, it is important to remember…
the tension lines.
cutaneous muscle is thick on … & absent on…
thick on thoracic skin
absent on limbs
Dogs have _____ _____ _____ with highly mobile skin, which differs from horses & humans.
Direct cutaneous arteries
When are these types of special closure techniques used?
cosmetic closure of skin defects of various shapes
When doing cosmetic closures of skin defects, what is important to manage correctly?
Dog ears - where the skin comes together at the end of suture line and puffs out
When doing cosmetic closures of skin defects, it is important to remember to cut…
along tension lines
What are some tension-relieving & skin mobilization procedures?
Far-Near-Near-Far suture
Stents
Undermining skin
Tension-release incision
Mesh expansion
V-Y Plasty
What are some types of skin flaps that can be used?
Rotating flap
Axial pattern flap
What is a skin graft?
Living tissue deprived of original blood supply & transferred to a new site
What is an autograft/isograft?
A skin graft from one part of an individual to another part of the same individual
What is an allograft/homograft?
A skin graft from one animal to another animal of the same species
What is a xenograft/heterograft?
A skin graft from one animal to another animal of a different species
Which of the grafts (auto-, allo-, xeno-) is successful in animals?
Autografts
What are the 4 different types of grafts?
full thickness graft
split thickness graft
mesh grafts
island grafts
What is the optimal recipient site for a graft?
smooth, healthy & well-vascularized tissue w/ excellent hemostasis that is also not infected
What makes an optimal graft?
- Remove all SQ tissue from the donor skin
- ‘mesh’ or ‘pie crust’ style for large grafts to allow fluid escape
What allows for optimal placement of a skin graft?
- correct suture tension between donor tissue and recipient site
- adequate immobilisation & protection of graft w/ dressings
- adequate patient immobilisation & prevention of self-trauma
The donor site should be in an ___ ___ where a ___ ____ is cosmetically acceptable
inconspicuous location
small scar
Do not forget…
the power of second intention healing
