Reconstructive Sx

Question 1

Reconstructive surgery is performed to

Answer 1

improve the body’s function, shape & overall health; to remedy disease; & to treat congenital or acquired deformities

Question 2

Why is the skin important?

Answer 2

• 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

Question 3

What are some common reasons for reconstructive surgery in animals?

Answer 3

wounds, neoplasia, developmental disease

Question 4

What are the 3 phases of wound healing?

Answer 4

• inflammation
• cellular proliferation/granulation
• remodelling/matureation

Question 5

How can you optimize wound healing?

Answer 5

• aseptic handling of tissues & equipment
• suitable lavage solutions
• thorough debridement
• appropriate contact layers
• correct bandaging & casting techniques
• proper nutrition
• analgesia

Question 6

the skin is…

Answer 6

anisotropic

Question 7

When doing reconstructive surgery, it is important to remember…

Answer 7

the tension lines.

Question 8

cutaneous muscle is thick on … & absent on…

Answer 8

thick on thoracic skin
absent on limbs

Question 9

Dogs have _____ _____ _____ with highly mobile skin, which differs from horses & humans.

Answer 9

Direct cutaneous arteries

Question 10

When are these types of special closure techniques used?

Answer 10

cosmetic closure of skin defects of various shapes

Question 11

When doing cosmetic closures of skin defects, what is important to manage correctly?

Answer 11

Dog ears - where the skin comes together at the end of suture line and puffs out

Question 12

When doing cosmetic closures of skin defects, it is important to remember to cut…

Answer 12

along tension lines

Question 13

What are some tension-relieving & skin mobilization procedures?

Answer 13

Far-Near-Near-Far suture
Stents
Undermining skin
Tension-release incision
Mesh expansion
V-Y Plasty

Question 14

What are some types of skin flaps that can be used?

Answer 14

Rotating flap
Axial pattern flap

Question 15

What is a skin graft?

Answer 15

Living tissue deprived of original blood supply & transferred to a new site

Question 16

What is an autograft/isograft?

Answer 16

A skin graft from one part of an individual to another part of the same individual

Question 17

What is an allograft/homograft?

Answer 17

A skin graft from one animal to another animal of the same species

Question 18

What is a xenograft/heterograft?

Answer 18

A skin graft from one animal to another animal of a different species

Question 19

Which of the grafts (auto-, allo-, xeno-) is successful in animals?

Answer 19

Autografts

Question 20

What are the 4 different types of grafts?

Answer 20

full thickness graft
split thickness graft
mesh grafts
island grafts

Question 21

What is the optimal recipient site for a graft?

Answer 21

smooth, healthy & well-vascularized tissue w/ excellent hemostasis that is also not infected

Question 22

What makes an optimal graft?

Answer 22

• Remove all SQ tissue from the donor skin
• ‘mesh’ or ‘pie crust’ style for large grafts to allow fluid escape

Question 23

What allows for optimal placement of a skin graft?

Answer 23

• correct suture tension between donor tissue and recipient site
• adequate immobilisation & protection of graft w/ dressings
• adequate patient immobilisation & prevention of self-trauma

Question 24

The donor site should be in an ___ ___ where a ___ ____ is cosmetically acceptable

Answer 24

inconspicuous location
small scar

Question 25

Do not forget...

Answer 25

the power of second intention healing