Banca de DEFESA: ANIELI VIDAL STOCCO

Cutaneous vascularization in Ostrich (Struthio camelus, Linnaeus 1758) as an experimental model for reconstructive surgery with axial flap in birds

Skin lesions; skin flaps; wound care; blood vessels

Skin injuries resulting from trauma, congenital anomalies or oncological processes can result in large wounds that are difficult to repair, making the need for reconstructive surgery frequent. Avian medicine is responsible for caring for free-ranging animals and animals kept under human care. Where the largest case series are birds victims of trauma, occurring mainly due to the influence of human actions. There are few alternatives available for the treatment of large wounds in these animals, with secondary intention healing being the most used when there is not enough tissue to guarantee the juxtaposition of the skin edges. However, this method prolongs treatment and may be associated with large contractures in the scar region. Therefore, axial flap reconstructive surgical techniques could be used for this class of animals. This technique depends on the vessels present in the skin to be performed, as it takes to the bed of an extensive wound, a skin flap containing a direct cutaneous artery and vein, allowing blood supply to the region, which guarantees a higher survival rate of the flap. and faster recovery of the animal. Prolonged treatment, handling, and daily physical restraint can be fatal for these animals, especially when they are weakened or sick. For this reason, therapies that reduce manipulation time and allow clinical improvement in a short period are essential. Seeking new treatment alternatives, the present work aimed to anatomically study the cutaneous vascularization present in the skin of birds, aiming to assist in reconstructive surgeries using axial flaps. Thirty ostriches (Struthio camelus) were used, fifteen males and fifteen females, provided by the Department of Animal and Human Anatomy of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), fixed in a 10% formaldehyde solution. The pieces were injected with a solution of Petrolatex S65 mixed with Xadrez pigment to stain the arteries and their branches, and were kept in vats containing 10% formaldehyde until dissection. The dissection was carried out on the dorsal, ventral and lateral sides of the birds, the pelvic limbs, abdominal region and only the dorsal side of the thoracic region. During dissection, nine distinct cutaneous arteries were identified in the skin of ostrich chicks. There are seven vessels classified as cutaneous branches of the arteries: cranial thigh, cranial femoral, caudal thigh, pubic, pudendal, lateral caudal and deep femoral. And two classified as lateral cutaneous femoral artery and caudal cutaneous crural artery. The anatomical regions of the cutaneous arteries were described and photographed. Therefore, the study made it possible to identify the arteries present in the ostriches' skin and determine their anatomical positions in order to help the veterinarian create axial flaps for the treatment of extensive wounds.