Surgical management of large chronic non-healing wounds by ultrasound therapy and reconstructive surgery in domestic short haired cats

Four domestic short haired cats, underwent reconstruction of large chronic non-healing wounds. Low Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound therapy was done by applying the probe directly against the cat skin and wound bed for 15 min on 0, 3^rd, 7^th and 14^th day. Wound planimetry was performed on 0, 7^th and 14^th day to assess the status of wound healing. The transposition flap was created by measuring the width and length of the defect. Ultrasound therapy promoted early granulation tissue formation and wound contraction in cats. Transposition flap technique proved to be effective in closure of large skin defects. All the cases healed well without much complications except in the second case, in which mild wound dehiscence was noticed in the donor area, due to self mutilation. It was concluded that low intensity pulsed ultrasound therapy and transposition flap based on subdermal plexus may be effective in management of large skin defects in cats.