Staged double-layer closure of palatal defects in 6 dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To report a staged approach that includes selective dental extractions before definitive double-layer hard palate defect closure in dogs.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
Dogs (n = 6) with a palatal defect.


METHODS
Dogs had selective maxillary teeth extractions 4-8 weeks before definitive hard palate defect repair by double-layer local full-thickness mucosal flaps.


RESULTS
All palatal defects were considered complex. Complete hard palate closure was achieved after initial attempt in 3 dogs; 2 dogs had revision surgery before complete closure, and in 1 dog, closure failed and further treatment was declined. No complications or long-term consequences were associated with selective dental extractions.


CONCLUSIONS
Selective dental extractions before definitive surgical repair using mucosal flaps in a double-layer approach is an effective alternative when treating complex hard palate defects in dogs.
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
Santiago
S
Peralta
Ana
A
Nemec
Nadine
N
Fiani
Frank J M
FJ
Verstraete
D000818:Animals; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000662:veterinary*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000662:veterinary; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome