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The Use of Skin Expansion to Repair Cosmetic Defects in Animals
Author(s) -
MADISON JOHN B.,
DONAWICK WILLIAM J.,
JOHNSTON DUDLEY E.,
ORSINI ROGER A.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
veterinary surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1532-950X
pISSN - 0161-3499
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-950x.1989.tb01037.x
Subject(s) - medicine , tissue expansion , surgery , dehiscence , silicone , implant , wound dehiscence , organic chemistry , chemistry
Skin expansion was used in three horses, one heifer, and one dog to aid in the repair of cosmetic defects. Skin expansion was produced by inserting an expandable silicone device sub‐cutaneously and gradually inflating the device with saline. Skin expansion allowed skin to be mobilized and sutured over cosmetic defects without excessive tension. A successful outcome was achieved in four of the five cases reported here. In one animal, two attempts to create a pocket for a silicone prosthesis failed because the expanders ruptured. Complications included implant failure, wound dehiscence, and exposure of an expander. Skin expansion can be used to enable closure of skin defects in areas where skin tension usually precludes repair by local transposition.