Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: ANIELI VIDAL STOCCO

Cutaneous Vascularization in Ostrich (Struthio camelus, Linnaeus 1758) as an Experimental Model for Reconstructive Surgeries with Axial Pattern Flap in Birds

Skin lesions. Skin flaps. Wound care. Blood vessels.

The cutaneous vascularization of birds is poorly described, and there are no studies to date that identify the main vessels that irrigate it. 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. Birds are one of the main victims of trauma, which occurs due to the influence of human actions. The growth of urban areas favors collisions of these against buildings, vehicles, windows, accidents with kite lines, electrical wiring, among others, most of which result in extensive skin injuries. Currently, there are few alternatives available for the treatment of large wounds in birds, with secondary intention healing being the most used when there is not enough tissue to guarantee the juxtaposition of the skin edges. However, this 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.

Today, there are reports of the influence of containment and stress on free-ranging birds, such as those kept under human care. Prolonged treatment, handling, and daily physical restraint can be fatal for these animals, especially when they are weakened or sick. For this reason, treatments that reduce manipulation time and allow clinical improvement in a short period are essential. Seeking new treatment alternatives, the present work aims to anatomically study the cutaneous vascularization of Struthio camelus, aiming to assist in reconstructive surgeries of axial flaps in birds, and consequently contribute to reducing the treatment time for these animals. 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. They were injected with a solution of Petrolatex S65 mixed with Xadrez pigment to stain the arteries and their branches. The birds were dissected to identify the cutaneous blood vessels, the larger arteries present in the skin will be cataloged and identified according to their origin. The dissected material was photographed and will be used to create anatomical diagrams.