USE OF OMENTAL PEDICLE GRAFTS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF NONHEALING AXILLARY WOUNDS IN 10 CATS

A retrospective analysis of the clinical case histories of 10 domestic shorthaired cats that underwent omentalisation, using a vascular pedi cle of greater omentum, of chronic non-healing axillary wounds was car ried out. Wounds were debrided and closed in a primary fashion followi ng omentalisation. The cats had undergone a modal number of three prev ious repair attempts over a three- to 18-month period (mean 11 months) before referral. Further dehiscence occurred in eight cases, requirin g a modal number of one further attempt at closure of the wound. Other complications included incisional herniation (two cats), serous exuda te from the axillary wound (two cats) and paracostal abscessation (one cat). Long-term cure was achieved in seven of the 10 cases, with woun ds finally having healed at a mean of 24 days post-omentalisation. Chr onic axillary wounds are particularly difficult to treat and there are no reports of consistently successful techniques for their repair. Th is report suggests that omentalisation of these wounds may be a step t owards such a repair procedure.