Small Animal Surgery Resident University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine Columbia, Missouri
Fascial Plane Mapping for Superficial Tumor Resection in Dogs. Part Two: Forelimb. Latifi M, Skinner O, Schroeder M, Mickelson M. University of Missouri, Veterinary Medical Center, Columbia, MO.
Delineating fascial intersections and categories can be useful to help facilitate preoperative planning of tumor removal on the forelimb. The objective of this study was to detail the qualitative fascial categories and fascial intersections of the forelimb of the dog to facilitate preoperative planning for superficial cancers. Seven mixed breed canine cadavers were used. The skin and subcutaneous fat were excised. Fascial planes were incised and elevated to allow exploration of their quality and borders. Fascia was categorized as type I (discrete sheets), type II (tightly adhered to thin muscles), type III (tightly adhered to thick muscles), or type IV (associated with periosteum). Photographs of specimens were digitally modified with overlays to map tissue types. Differences between the cadavers used were largely based on muscle mass and sex, with minimal other subjective differences affecting fascial mapping. The fasciae of the forelimb were largely type II or type III, with type I fascia at the antebrachium and type IV fascia at the olecranon, scapular spine, and accessory carpal bone. Fascial integrity was often questionable or lacking distal to the distal quarter of the antebrachium. The fascial types and integrity of the forelimb varied with anatomic location, with thin or absent fascia at the elbow, carpus, and manus. This study provides information for preoperative planning and excision of superficial tumors of the forelimb. Knowledge of the potential limitations of fascia to provide a deep margin may influence selection of treatment modalities.