MEDIAL SAPHENOUS FASCIOCUTANEOUS AND MYOCUTANEOUS FREE-FLAP TRANSFER IN 8 DOGS

Skin defects on the distal extremity (n = 7) or face (n = 1) of eight dogs were repaired using a medial saphenous fasciocutaneous or myocuta neous flap. The cause of the wounds were ablative oncological surgery (n = 4), trauma (n = 3), or radiation burn (n = 1). The flap was remov ed from the medial femorotibial region, and transferred to the wound b ed. The vascular supply to the flap was reestablished via microvascula r 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 myocu taneous 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. (C) C opyright 1997 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons