Use of omental pedicle grafts in the management of non-healing axillary wounds in 10 cats

A retrospective analysis of the clinical case histories of 10 domestic shorthaired cats that underwent omentalisation, using a vascular pedicle of greater omentum, of chronic non-healing axillary wounds was carried out. Wounds were debrided and closed in a primary fashion following omentalisation. The cats had undergone a modal number of three previous repair attempts over a three- to 18-month period (mean 11 months) before referral. Further dehiscence occurred in eight cases, requiring a modal number of one further attempt at closure of the wound. Other complications included incisional herniation (two cats), serous exudate from the axillary wound (two cats) and paracostal abscessation (one cat). Long-term cure was achieved in seven of the 10 cases, with wounds finally having healed at a mean of 24 days post-omentalisation. Chronic axillary wounds are particularly difficult to treat and there are no reports of consistently successful techniques for their repair. This report suggests that omentalisation of these wounds may be a step towards such a repair procedure.