Road to recovery : Management of degloving injuries in a 9 year old American Bulldog

Abstract

A nine year old spayed female American Bulldog was treated at Cornell University Hospital for Animals for over one month for extensive degloving injuries of the left forelimb and tail sustained after being hit by a garbage truck. Prior to presentation to Cornell, her wounds were managed with wet-to-dry bandages for several days. On presentation several abnormalities suggested she was septic and she was initially stabilized with intravenous fluids, plasma transfusions, and broad spectrum antibiotics. The tail was deemed the source of infection and thus a high caudectomy was performed. The forelimb injury was managed with Vacuum Assisted Closure for one week followed by a rotating skin flap. After necrosis of the distal aspect of the flap and failure to manage this defect with standard bandaging, a mesh graft was performed. The VAC system was also applied postoperatively to both the flap and graft. The forelimb wound was successfully managed.