title: An animal model for maxillary reconstruction using a temporalis muscle flap.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article describes the feasibility of using the temporalis muscle flap to cover a defect after maxillectomy in cats and to evaluate the clinical healing process of this flap in the oral environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The material consisted of 30 cats of the Felis catus species. A standardized unilateral maxillectomy was performed and the resulting defect immediately closed with a pedicled temporalis flap. The healing of this flap was clinically assessed at determined intervals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Healing of the temporalis flap in the oral environment of cats progressed from an inflammatory to a proliferative phase, with eventual coverage by a smooth oral mucosa 18 to 24 weeks after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cat proved to be a useful model for this type of study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Cheung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000502:physiology; D013703:Temporal Muscle / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing