Split-thickness autogenous skin transplantation in the horse
Booth, L.C.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 180(7): 754-757
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 7045056 Document Number: 191887
Single or multiple split-thickness autogenous skin transplants were applied to 20 limb wounds of 17 horses. The surface area of the wounds ranged from 25 to 200 cm2. Grafts 0.635 mm thick were collected by use of an electric dermatome and were expanded on a mesh dermatome. The expanded mesh grafts were applied to wounds on three horses four days after injury. For the other 14 horses, grafts were applied after a granulation tissue bed had formed. The grafts were secured to the recipient beds with sutures and a dressing composed of a foam pad and elastic adhesive tape or with the dressing alone. Further protection was provided by a plaster cast or bulky cotton bandage. Graft acceptance ranged from 50% to 100%, with an average of 88%. Epithelialization was complete within 14 to 21 days in most cases. Grafts with greater than 60% acceptance resulted in a healed wound that was considered cosmetically acceptable.