Full-thickness skin grafting to cover equine wounds caused by laceration or tumor resection.
Authors: Tóth Ferenc, Schumacher Jim, Castro Fernando, Perkins Justin
Journal: Veterinary surgery : VS
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Full-Thickness Skin Grafting in Equine Wound Management This case series of six adult horses demonstrates that full-thickness skin grafting offers a viable reconstructive option for managing significant cutaneous defects following laceration or tumour resection, with successful graft acceptance achievable in standing sedated animals using local anaesthesia. Grafts were harvested from the pectoral region and secured using staples, sutures, or cyanoacrylate adhesive, with five of six horses achieving complete graft acceptance despite superficial layer sloughing in all cases. Whether applied to fresh surgical defects or established granulation tissue, full-thickness grafts demonstrated consistent integration, with good cosmetic outcomes reported across accepted grafts. For practitioners managing horses with extensive wounds or post-neoplasm defects where secondary intention healing would be prolonged or aesthetically suboptimal—particularly in performance or competition animals—full-thickness grafting represents a practical approach that can be performed without general anaesthesia, minimising perioperative risk whilst maintaining functional and cosmetic results.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Full-thickness skin grafting is a viable option for covering large wound defects from tumor resection or severe lacerations, with high acceptance rates and good cosmetic results
- •The procedure can be performed in standing sedated horses using cyanoacrylate glue, avoiding general anesthesia risks and costs while maintaining practicality
- •Wound bed condition (fresh vs. granulating) does not significantly impact graft success, allowing flexibility in surgical timing and planning
Key Findings
- •Full-thickness skin grafts were completely accepted in 5 of 6 horses (83% success rate)
- •Grafts can be successfully placed in standing sedated horses using cyanoacrylate glue or staples/sutures with good cosmetic outcomes
- •Graft acceptance is similar for both fresh defects (post-excision) and granulating laceration wounds
- •Superficial layers of all grafts sloughed but final cosmetic appearance was good in accepted grafts