Why Does Your Pet Need Wound Closure with Stretching Device?

Do you know that animals' and humans' skin has non-homogenous viscoelastic tissue that combines elastic solids and viscous fluid?

Every animal has a different level of inherent elasticity in its skin. Also, it depends on the body region with the wound. Therefore, skin-stretching devices are made for wound closure surgery and aid in attaching the viscoelastic properties of skin.

Have you ever heard of wound closure surgery with a stretching device? It's a mouthful, but don't fret. It's more straightforward than it sounds. This method is a new-age, hocus-pocus in pet care, and it's as real as it gets!

What Is Wound Closure Surgery With Stretching Device?

Wound closure surgery with a stretching device is what it says on the tin. It's all about using a nifty device to stretch the skin around a wound gently. This method promotes skin growth and, over time, closes the wound naturally. It's like watching a flower bloom in slow motion.

This procedure is a godsend for those gnarly wounds. We're not talking about paper cuts here, but severe stuff - surgical wounds, injuries from a tussle at the dog park, you name it!

Here's the deal:

• Traditional methods like stitches or staples? They can cause stress and discomfort to your beloved pet.
• A stretching device, on the other hand, is a gentle giant. It slowly and carefully does its job, reducing your pet's discomfort.

Why Does Your Pet Need This Surgery?

So why would your pet need to go through this process? Good question! There are a few reasons why this kind of surgery is the best choice for your four-legged friend.

• Some wounds are just too big or complex for traditional healing methods. It's like trying to fix a skyscraper with duct tape.
• We already mentioned how much less stressful this method can be for your pet. And let's face it, and a happy pet means a happy pet parent!
• Infections are the bane of any wound. They're like unwanted guests at a party. Luckily, a wound that's closed more naturally is less likely to invite these party crashers.
• And hey, here's a bonus: wound closure with a stretching device often results in a less noticeable scar. It's not that our pets care about a beauty contest, but who doesn't like looking their best?

So there you have it, folks! Wound closure surgery with stretching device isn't some high-tech mumbo jumbo. It's a modern, effective, and gentle way to help serious wounds heal. After all, we all want what's best for our furry friends, right?

Methods To Check The Inherent Skin Extensibility:

The inherent skin extensibility can be assessed by grasping and lifting the skin between the index finger and thumb.

Mechanical Creep

It is a biomechanical property that includes collagen fibers to align over time. This method allows further skin extension and enhances the inherent extensibility.

Stress Relaxation

Massive reduction is required for stress relaxation to stretch the skin's length. For instance, mechanical creep and stress relaxation are achievable with the consistent application of load on the skin and intermitting the skin with a relaxation period.

Biological Creep

The biological creep is recognized by increasing the skin surface, and it will slowly expand due to the subcutaneous forces applied to the tissues. Thus, the progressive enlargement of the enlarged tumors, obesity, and gravity uterus are typical examples of this phenomenon.

The surgical attempts for skin stretching include assisting in the closure of wounds and relying on mobilization to take advantage of the skin's inherent extensibility, stress relaxation, and mechanical creep.

Pre-suturing, load cycling with skin hooks, tissue expanders, and c-clamp skin stretching devices are examples that benefit from the biomechanical properties of the animals' skin.

Every technique used for wound closure surgery has limitations and advantages in clinical patients. Another common drawback of the device includes a flexible degree. In addition, the stretching device requires an insertion beneath or into the skin to exert the mechanical effect. The non-invasive device will be applied with adjustable tension on the skin distance and nearby the surgical region.

The device is named a skin stretcher, enabling the surgeon to gradually increase the skin's tension and accommodate for loading the stress relaxation and mechanical creep.

Uses Of Skin Closure Device:

The skin stretchers are made for mobilizing and stretching the skin to facilitate wound closure surgery.

• Pre-stitching the skin before elective surgery, such as skin tumor removal.
• Stretching skin while opening the wound and preparing the wound for closure with a stretching device.
•  Application of the incisional tension after the surgery

Application And Skin Preparation

The skin preparation for animal wound closure will include the following steps before applying the skin pad:

• First of all, clip the animal's fur from the region, including applying a skin pad.
• Now gently clean the skin with soap or use isopropyl alcohol.
• The skin should be dry enough to apply the skin pad.
• The pads are generally placed with a 10 to 20-cm measurement from the surgical area. Nevertheless, apply multiple skin pads in several locations near or distant from the surgical site.
• The placement of pads is possible in pairs or at the opposing areas in the surgical area.

Procedure For Applying Skin Pads:

• To remove the adhesive surface, peel off the backing.
• To enhance the skin adhesion, apply some drops of cyanoacrylate adhesive for contact on the surface. Now uniformly spread glue and immediately apply the pad to the skin.
• It is crucial to apply the pad perpendicularly to the surgical site.
• Now compress the pad on the skin for a few seconds.
• The remaining skin pads should be applied in the same style.

Procedure For Attaching The Elastic Cables To Skin Pads:

After the pad application, the cables will be attached to the skin pads in the following style:

• You need to place an anchor on one end of the cable to the one pillow.
• Now stretch the elastic cable on the paired pad, which should be on the opposite surgical site. Again, put a small amount of tension.
• Cut the elastic cable from the provided coil.
• Repeat one to three steps with the left-over pads.
• A medical dressing will be placed on the surgical area to protect the surgical site from cable irritation.

Procedure For Adjusting The Elastic Cables After The Application:

• When the skin relaxes or stretches, the cable tension will be enhanced by separating the cable from one pad. The reapplication will ensure maximum uniform pressure and optimize skin stretching.
• The cable tension requires adjustment every 6 to 8 hours.
• The skin stretching is performed for 1 to 5 days per the adjustment required for mobilization. Primarily, the skin stretchers are utilized for 72 hours.

The Benefits And Risks Of Wound Closure Surgery With Stretching Device

We all want our pets to live happy, healthy lives, right? And when they get injured, we want to give them the best care possible. That's where animal wound closure surgery with a stretching device comes in. But like everything in life, it's got its ups and downs. Let's break it down.

The Benefits of Wound Closure Surgery

So, why should you consider this procedure for your furry friend? There are plenty of reasons, believe it or not! Here are a few big ones:

• Less Stressful: This method is like a gentle pat on the back compared to traditional methods like stitches or staples. Your pet will thank you!
• Reduced Risk of Infection: A closed wound naturally keeps those pesky germs at bay better than a traditionally closed one. It's like having your own bouncer, keeping the bad guys out!
• Scar? What Scar? Often, this type of procedure results in a less visible scar. Your pet might not care about looking like a model, but a smaller scar is never bad!

The Risks of Wound Closure Surgery

But wait, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. There are some risks involved with this procedure. But don't worry, and we're not talking about anything terrifying. Here they are:

• Time-consuming: This procedure takes a while. It's a marathon, not a sprint. You need to be patient and give the wound time to heal.
• Requires Regular Vet Visits: Your vet must monitor the wound and adjust the device as necessary. This means you'll be seeing a lot of your vet. Good thing they're usually pretty nice!
• Possible Device-Related Complications: Like with any device, complications can occur. The device might slip or cause discomfort. But remember, your vet is there to ensure everything goes smoothly.

At the end of the day, it's all about weighing the pros and cons. Wound closure surgery with stretching device can be an excellent option for helping your pet's wounds heal. As always, make sure you have a heart-to-heart with your vet about what's best for your fur baby. After all, they're part of the family, right?

What Is The Cost Of Wound Closure With Stretching Device?

The approximate fee for wound closure surgery with a stretching device is $2,600.00.