Skin Grafting in the Dog Elroy C
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Volume 19 | Issue 3 Article 1 1957 Skin Grafting in the Dog Elroy C. Jensen Iowa State College Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/iowastate_veterinarian Part of the Small or Companion Animal Medicine Commons, and the Veterinary Anatomy Commons Recommended Citation Jensen, Elroy C. (1957) "Skin Grafting in the Dog," Iowa State University Veterinarian: Vol. 19 : Iss. 3 , Article 1. Available at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/iowastate_veterinarian/vol19/iss3/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Iowa State University Veterinarian by an authorized editor of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SKIN GRAFTING In The Dog Elroy C. J,ensen, D.V.M. THERE are several histological factors the arm instead of from the forehead. which have made skin grafting pos This technique is now known as the Ital sible in man and animals. First, the com ian method of rhinoplasty. Free skin parative ease which epithelium can regen grafting started early in the 19th century erate is a factor. This new growth of tis by two charlatans which is related by sue occurs either from the periphery of a Baroni, the physi'Ologist, "A woman wound or it may result from proliferation named Gamba Curat, in order to show of the external root sheath of the hair the efficiency of an ointment she was sel follicles providing the dermis has not been ling, cut a piece of skin from her thigh completely destroyed. Another fea:ture of and after passing it around for inspection, skin is that its constituent cells may be replaced it in its original bed, and dres kept alive for several days by means of sed the area with the .ointment. The next the tissue fluid from below the graft by evening the graft was S'O far healed that the process of osmosis. This affords suf no further dressing was necessary. The ficient time for new vessels to be formed second charlatan also sold an ointment which will then nourish the skin. Also, described as a cure for all ills and named the ability of the capillaries to proliferate by him 'The ointment of the French and then anastomose with those of the Army'. He cut a large piece of skin, in graft make this feat possible. It is only cluding some of the underlying muscle, because of these physiological processes from his forearm and after holding it up that this type of surgery is successful. for the spectators to see, replaced it, and According to Neuhofl, the first attempts dressed the wound with his ointment. at skin grafting were made centuries ago Eight days later he exhibited his arm, by some members of the tile makers' and the scar of the wound could scarcely caste in India. They used pedunculated be seen." This incident suggested to skin flaps from the forehead and cheek to Baroni a series of experiments with 'auto reconstruct the nose. The use of this type grafts on the sheep. Maltz2 relates in his of graft has since been called the Indian book, "Evolution of Plastic Surgery" that method of rhinoplasty. In 1597 Gaspar Giusepp Baroni, in 1804 "carried out a Tagliocozzi modified the method of rhino series of successful experiments on ani plasty so as to transplant the skin from mals (mainly sheep) transplanting pieces of skin 12.5 by 7.5 cm. In his initial ex Dr. Jensen received his D.V.M. from Michigan periment, two whole thickness portions State University in 1951. He is now an assistant of skin of equal size and devoid of subcu professor in the Department of Veterinary Med icine and Surgery at Iowa State College. taneous tissue were removed from the Issue 3, 1957 163 sides of the root of the tail of a sheep. be more likely to receive a blood supply. The pieces were transferred directly to Another advantage of this graft is that the opposite sides. In his second experi the donor area doesn't have to be re ment along similar lines, the pieces of grafted as the small pieces of skin are skin were placed after an interval of removed so that intact skin remains be eighteen minutes. In his third experiment tween each d'Onor site so that epitheliz Baroni procured a larger piece of skin ation from the periphery of the intact (5 by 5 inches) including the subjacent skin will close the wound. The disad tissue and a small muscle fragment. These vantage of this type of graft is that the were not transplanted for an hour." cosmetic appearance results in 'a "spotted" Davis3 in an editorial entitled "The or "pitted" area, both 'On the recipent and Nomenclature of Skin Grafting", lists and the donor areas. Another fault is that the defines the four skin grafts commonly donor site cannot be re-used for further used today. His definition 'Of a graft might grafts due to the appearance it has when also be quoted: "A mass of tissue cut free healed. Probably in the dog this would to be transplanted where desired which not be as ser~ous a fault as in the human. receives its blood supply from the sur The whole-thickness or Wolfe-Krause face on which it is placed." Thus he has graft is the ideal graft in many respects reference to free skin grafts when he as it contains the entire skin layers. Ad enumerates the following type of grafts: vantages of this graft 'are: that it shrinks (1) Reverdin graft 'Or "pinch graft" less when healing than the other types; which are 3-5 mm in diameter and con it affords more resistance to trauma than sist of the epidermis and a very small any of the other three methods, as a good amount of the dermis, (2) small deep deposit of subcutaneous tissue will form graft which is about the same size as the underneath this graft; it 'also has an ad Reverdin, but includes almost the entire vantage in that it can be used to graft thickness of the corium at least in the hairy areas, as most of the hair follicles center, (3) Wolfe-Krause or the whole are viable after transplanting. Disad thickness graft which includes the entire vantages of this graft are several: (1) skin and (4) the Ollier Thiersch or "split It is very susceptible to infection and can thickness graft" which consists of the ep not be used on infected or even granu idermis and only a portion of the dermis. lating wounds (the latter is true in the The pedicle or flap is another type of human at least), (2) it is more difficult plastic surgery. In this type of graft, the to get satisfactory "takes" due to the skin is attached at some portion of its thickness of the skin and the establish periphery or base by a pedicle through ment of a satisfactory blood supply, and which it receives its blood supply. This (3) the donor site must be regrafted or graft can be shifted only so far as its else the skin shifted to cover the area pedicle will allow. from which it was donated. Each type of graft has its indications The split thickness or Ollier-Thiersch although there are times when one of graft consists of the epidermis and a por severa,l could be used with nearly equal tion of the dermis, but enough of the der results. The Reverdin or "pinch graft" mis remains so that epithelization occurs and the small deep graft can be used un at the donor site. This type of graft is der similar conditions. These are small usually obtained from the abdomen and pieces of skin 3-5 mm. in diameter which medial aspects of the thigh. Dermatomes are seeded on 'a recipient area. The ad or mechanical cutting instruments are vantage of this method is that a small usually used to cut this skin for grafting donor area will go a long way to seed an although it can be done free-hand. The area as the grafts are placed about 3-5 advantages are several: (1) The graft mm. apart. Epithelization occurs from is thin and is less likely to die from lack these seeded areas and eventually covers of nutrition during the first few days af the area. The grafts are small and hence ter transplanting, 'and (2) the donor area a better chance of "takes" as they would regenerates by itself; in fact, in the hu- 164 Iowa State College Veterinarian man some areas have been used 4-5 times grow from a graft of this nature as hair at intervals of 4-5 weeks. Several disad follicles are not e'asily destroyed during vantages, however, limit the use of this this transfer. graft. The cosmetic appearance is not as Just what occurs after a graft has been good as that of the full thickness graft as transplanted on a recipient area was there is some shrinkage. In our experi studied by Davis and Trautl who were mental work on dogs we have been cut interested in whether vessels of the graft ting the grafts at .030 inches and find that anastomosed with those of the grafted shrinkage is not excessive. The graft will area; whether capillaries of the grafted be dry and desquamate for several area grew into the graft by extending months during which time it will have to into the old vessels of the graft or whether be softened with lotions.