Post Surgical Healing Following Cyst Removal from Tail
ABSTRACT
Large cyst on the dorsal aspect of the tail with recurrent rupturing and oozing. Owners wanted to be able to have the cyst removed without tail amputation and without the cost or post-operative restrictions needed for skin grafting. Transdermal carbon dioxide significantly shortened the healing time of the tail.
Clinician: Christopher G Hussion, DVM
Client Information: Scout – 9 Year Old MN 90 pound Labradoodle
CASE HISTORY AND CLINICAL SIGNS
Scout presented on November 11 for tail amputation in order to remove a large non healing cyst on the dorsal tail that measured 2.0 to 2.5 cm diameter on any given day. After discussion with owner regarding trying to save the tail it was decided to us post-operative transdermal pharmaceutical carbon dioxide.
TREATMENT
On November 15, surgical removal of the cyst was performed under general anesthesia. The growth/cyst was removed providing 2-3 mm margins of a 2.0 cm diameter cyst on the dorsal aspect the tail. Releasing incisions were done along with stents to help with minimizing the tension and trying to make the defect a bit smaller. Tissue was not submitted for histopathology per owner request. A bandage was applied. Transdermal carbon dioxide was initiated daily on November 18 and continued through the 22nd. Beginning on November 25th, Transdermal CO2 was applied three days a week until December 11th. The defect was not completely healed at that time but the owners decided to discontinue further treatments because healing was moving along fine.
SUMMARY
Benign growths that need to be removed in areas where there is no room for closure without costly skin grafting options is always a problem. Transdermal carbon dioxide therapy is a worthy alternative and, in this case, it significantly increased healing.This therapy allows treatment other than amputation of any extremity and probably a more cost effective option than grafting with retaining said extremity. I will encourage its use of following all surgeries that require second intention healing.
Dr. Hussion is the owner/medical director of Old Mill Veterinary Hospital in Leesburg, Virginia. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine and is a current member of the AVMA, VVMA (where he serves as a board member), and LCVMA.