Case Series: Reconstructing Feline Faces Using Local Flaps and Electro-Activated Super-Oxidised Water in Veterinary Wound Management

¹ Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
² Department of Surgery and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

Facial wounds in cats are difficult to manage because the skin is a relatively tight, frequently contaminated area, and needs to preserve the functional as well as cosmetic outcomes. Inadequate wound preparation or premature closure may lead to infection, flap failure, or deformity. This study aimed to describe the clinical application of local and axial pattern flaps for feline facial reconstruction following staged wound bed preparation. Four feline patients with extensive facial defects were treated between 2023 and 2025 at a small animal clinic. Cases included traumatic injuries, parasitic infestation, as well as bone exposure. Wound management was performed using electro-activated super-oxidised water (EASW) irrigation combined with hydrogel dressings before surgical reconstruction. Depending on the size and location of the defect, rotational advancement, transposition, angularis oris axial, or caudal auricular axial pattern flaps were selected. Postoperative monitoring focused on flap viability, healing time, and restoration of normal function. All flaps remained viable without distal necrosis or dehiscence. Healing time ranged from 7 to 60 days. Functional recovery, including feeding and grooming behavior, was achieved in all cases, with satisfactory cosmetic outcomes.