title: Use of a coccygeal axial pattern flap for reconstruction following tumour excision in a cat.
abstract: A 6-year-old male castrated Chartreux cat was referred for recurrence of an injection site sarcoma at the base of the tail 7 months after the initial surgery. Upon presentation, the physical examination was unremarkable except for a non-painful, subcutaneous mass, 2 cm in diameter, firmly attached to the underlying tissue on the left lateral side of the tail base. Complete blood count, biochemistry and urinalysis were within normal limits; thoracic radiographs and abdominal ultrasound showed no evidence of metastatic disease. After removing the mass with 3 cm margins laterally and two deep fascial planes, the defect was reconstructed after tail amputation using a coccygeal axial pattern flap based on the lateral coccygeal arteries and veins. There were no complications with wound healing and the only visible change was a difference in hair coat direction at the 1 month re-check. This is the first report to describe the utility and feasibility of the coccygeal axial pattern flap to reconstruct a large cutaneous defect over the caudodorsal pelvic region in a cat.
authors.affiliation: Nerviano Veterinary Clinic, Nerviano, Italy vm@cvnsrl.it.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Montinaro
authors.affiliation: Nerviano Veterinary Clinic, Nerviano, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Massari
authors.affiliation: Nerviano Veterinary Clinic, Nerviano, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romanelli
mesh_terms: D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002415:Cats; D008297:Male; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000662:veterinary*; D013623:Tail / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing