RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To describe a novel surgical technique for the ventral stabilization of the orbit after inferior orbitectomy by using a sling suture and report outcomes in three dogs. ANIMALS: A 7-year-old male neutered Swiss shepherd, a 4-year-old female neutered golden retriever and a 9-year-old female neutered Rhodesian ridgeback. STUDY DESIGN: Short case series. METHODS: All dogs presented with caudal unilateral maxillary masses. Surgical resection necessitated a caudal maxillectomy and inferior orbitectomy with a combined dorsolateral and intraoral approach. A sling suture was used to support the globe. A nylon suture was placed rostrally through the osteotomized maxilla and caudally through the osteotomized zygomatic arch via predrilled holes. The suture was tightened until the position of the globe subjectively appeared normal and was secured with a surgeon's knot. The periorbita was secured over the nylon suture with poliglecaprone suture material in a simple interrupted or continuous pattern. The surgical approach was routinely closed. RESULTS: Follow-up ranged from 7 to 63 days. The surgical wounds healed uneventfully, and no postoperative complications associated with the stabilization technique were noted. No orbital deviation was noted and the zygomatic regions appeared subjectively symmetrical. CONCLUSION: The nylon sling suture provided a quick, easy, safe and effective technique to stabilize the ventral orbit during a combined maxillectomy and orbitectomy in dogs.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and severity of complications for subdermal plexus flaps in dogs and compare the complications when using sutures or staples for cutaneous closure of subdermal plexus flaps. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective monocentric study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Ninety-seven client-owned dogs. METHODS: Dogs that underwent wound reconstruction using subdermal plexus flaps were retrospectively identified. Type of flap, cutaneous closure technique, complications and level of complication associated with their use were recorded. Follow-up was considered adequate if it was more than 10 days postoperatively or until a complication occurred. RESULTS: Complications were seen in 52 dogs (53.6%), of which 13/18 (72.2%) of dogs had cutaneous closure with skin staples versus 39/79 (49.3%) with skin sutures. The location of the mass/wound on the head and use of an advancement flap was associated with lower incidence of complications (p < .001; p = .018 respectively). Location of the mass/wound on the proximal pelvic limb was associated with a low level of complications (p = .01) on univariable analysis only. On multivariable analysis, only an increased bodyweight was associated with an increased incidence of complications (p = .029). CONCLUSIONS: Increased weight may be associated with an increased risk of complications with subdermal plexus flaps. No risk factor was found to be associated with the severity of complications. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Overall incidence of complications for subdermal plexus flaps in dogs in this study was 53.6%. The number of dogs included in the study was not sufficient to assess if the skin closure technique affects the incidence of complications.
