CONTROLLED TISSUE EXPANSION IN THE DISTAL EXTREMITIES OF DOGS

Controlled tissue expansion using a 100 cc rectangular silicone elasto mer expander was performed in the mid-antebrachium and mid-crus of eig ht adult mixed-breed dogs. Two expander inflation schedules were follo wed. Group 1 dogs (n = 4) underwent expander inflation using 10 cc ste rile saline every other day, and group 2 dogs (n = 4) underwent expand er inflation using 15 cc sterile saline every other day until the nomi nal volume (100 cc) was attained. Significant mean postexpansion incre ases in skin surface area of 94.1 cm2 (35.9%) and 108.9 cm2 (37.3%) we re measured in the antebrachium and crus, respectively (p < .05). In a second procedure, the expanders were removed and skin flaps were deve loped from the redundant tissue generated during the expansion process . Single pedicle advancement flaps and transposition flaps were used t o cover surgically created defects measuring 5 X 10 cm in the antebrac hium and crus. Single pedicle advancement flaps consistently measured 10 X 10 cm and could be advanced to cover defects involving one third of the mid-antebrachial or mid-crural circumference. Transposition fla ps were rotated up to 170-degrees and the donor site defects were easi ly closed under minimal or no tension. Complications included an absce ss in one dog and seroma formation in four dogs. Differences in succes s or complication rates between group 1 dogs and group 2 dogs were not observed; an accelerated inflation schedule using 15 cc sterile salin e every other day was recommended.