title: Construction of a weight-bearing surface on a dog's distal pelvic limb.
abstract: A one-year-old, neutered female boxer presented with a self-inflicted pandigital amputation following complications of a left hind footpad laceration repair. A meshed skin graft was placed distally over the exposed granulation tissue of the affected limb. In two surgical procedures, a total of five 6 by 8-mm and three 8 by 10-mm digital pad grafts were transplanted into recessed sites in the granulation tissue over the distal aspect of the metatarsal bones. A newly designed pressure relief bandage/ splint was used to assist maturation of the grafts. The result was a weight-bearing surface over an area of maximum tissue stress.
authors.affiliation: Scott-Ritchey Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Alabama 36849, USA.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Scardino
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Swaim
mesh_terms: D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D001458:Bandages / Q000662:veterinary; D004285:Dogs / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006097:Granulation Tissue / Q000601:surgery; D006614:Hindlimb; D006724:Hoof and Claw / Q000293:injuries* / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000662:veterinary; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D013165:Splints / Q000662:veterinary; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000662:veterinary; D015503:Surgical Sponges / Q000662:veterinary; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous / Q000662:veterinary; D016474:Weight-Bearing