Skin and Muscle Flap Techniques in the Dog

Open to All Audiences

Skin and muscle flaps are the backbone of small animal reconstructive surgery. This laboratory session combines a lecture format with laboratory training on the use of skin flaps, muscle flaps, and skin stretching devices to facilitate wound closure.

This laboratory will focus on the following:
• Local skin flaps: advancement flaps, transposition skin flaps in various anatomic locations
• Commonly-used axial pattern skin flaps (APF): caudal superficial epigastric APF, thoracodorsal APF, genicular APF, deep circumflex iliac APF (dorsal and ventral branch), lateral caudal (tail) APF
• Muscle flaps: latissimus dorsi muscle, external abdominal oblique muscle
• Demonstration of skin stretching techniques for wound closure

The following techniques will be discussed and performed on the cadaver specimens provided:
• Local skin flaps: advancement, transposition
• APF: caudal superficial epigastric, thoracodorsal, genicular, deep circumflex iliac (dorsal and ventral variations), lateral caudal (tail) flap
• Muscle flaps: latissimus dorsi, external abdominal oblique
• Skin stretching techniques

Dr. Pavletic’s Atlas of Small Animal Wound Management and Reconstructive Surgery, 4th edition, Wiley Blackwell (2018) is the reference for this laboratory.