Medial Saphenous Fasciocutaneous and Myocutaneous Free Flap Transfer in Eight Dogs

Abstract

Skin defects on the distal extremity (n = 7) or face (n = 1) of eight dogs were repaired using a medial saphenous fasciocutaneous or myocutaneous flap. The cause of the wounds were ablative oncological surgery (n = 4), trauma (n = 3), or radiation burn (n = 1). The flap was removed from the medial femorotibial region, and transferred to the wound bed. The vascular supply to the flap was reestablished via microvascular anastomosis of the medial saphenous vessels of the flap to recipient vessels isolated adjacent to the wound. Three flaps incorporated the distal half of the caudal head of the sartorius muscle to form a myocutaneous free flap. All flaps survived completely. The medial saphenous fasciocutaneous and myocutaneous free flaps were found to be reliable and cosmetically acceptable for repair of skin defects in dogs.

Vacuum-Assisted Closure Combined with a Myocutaneous Flap in the Management of Osteomyelitis in a Dog

“…Mycocutaneous flaps are well defined in the literature for adjunctive treatment of osteomyelitis [2,6]. The caudal sartorius myocutaneous flap, despite being a type IV muscle, was reported to be an extremely reliable flap due to its blood supply from the saphenous artery and vein and reverse saphenous blood flow as described for the reverse saphenous conduit flap [3,4]. Possible explanations for the distal myocutaneous flap necrosis seen in this case include lack of proximal muscle excision as was recommended during the original study by Weinstein et al, excessive flap shear in lieu of lateral splint stabilization, or hindered blood flow due to the nature of segmental blood supply to the muscle [3].…”

“…Muscle flaps, for the most part, are easily dissected and are harvested with little donor site morbidity [1]. Donor muscle selection is based on the dimensions of the defect and function or purpose of the reconstructive procedure and can be harvested alone or as a composite flap (skin and muscle) [2][3][4]. Muscle flaps augment vascular supply of compromised wounds by inducing angiogenesis, which is used for the management of chronic osteomyelitis, shearing wounds to the distal extremities, decubital ulcers, and ablative oncological procedures [3][4][5].…”

“…Donor muscle selection is based on the dimensions of the defect and function or purpose of the reconstructive procedure and can be harvested alone or as a composite flap (skin and muscle) [2][3][4]. Muscle flaps augment vascular supply of compromised wounds by inducing angiogenesis, which is used for the management of chronic osteomyelitis, shearing wounds to the distal extremities, decubital ulcers, and ablative oncological procedures [3][4][5]. The increased blood supply through transferred muscle enhances the host defense mechanism to a compromised wound by increasing local concentrations of immunoglobulins, complement, neutrophils, and oxygen tension [2,6].…”

Microvascular Free Tissue Transfer of the Rectus Abdominis Muscle in Dogs

“…The medial saphenous fasciocutaneous free flap was then successfully transferred to a forelimb defect in six consecutive research dogs 19 . Medial saphenous fasciocutaneous or myocutaneous free flaps were then successfully transferred in eight clinical cases 20 . The myocutaneous flaps incorporated the distal one half of the caudal head of the sartorius muscle.…”

“…These include the trapezius, latissimus dorsi, caudal head of the sartorius and the transverses abdominis 10,16,20,21 .…”