Use of Skin Stretchers to Elongate a Peninsular Thoracodorsal Axial Pattern Flap for Antebrachial Wound Closure in a Dog

Abstract

To describe preoperative use of skin stretchers to elongate a peninsular thoracodorsal axial pattern flap to close a large antebrachial wound on a dog. Case report. A 21 kg, 7-year-old, male intact mixed breed dog. Two skin stretchers were applied to the site of the thoracodorsal axial pattern flap 4 days before surgery. The elastic cables connecting the adhesive pads were tightened daily to increase the skin available for a peninsular thoracodorsal axial pattern flap, which was created and rotated 180° to cover an antebrachial defect to a level 2 cm proximal to the carpus. The entire flap survived; there was a small amount of incisional separation at the distal margin of the flap that healed without further treatment. Preoperative skin stretching provided additional skin for the axial pattern flap used.