Surgical Reconstruction of the Metatarsal Pad Using Nonweight-Bearing Surfaces of the Footpads in a Dog.

A 9 yr old mixed-breed dog weighing 6.3 kg was presented with degloving injuries and multiple lacerations on the footpads of both hindlimbs. After amputation of the left hindlimb and debridement of the necrotic footpads on the right hindlimb, the remaining pads were insufficient for ambulation. The complete carpal pads and the peripheral, nonweight-bearing portions of the second and fifth digital pads of both forelimbs were harvested for pad grafting. All segments were sutured on the cutaneous trunci muscle in the predetermined location of the right abdominal wall for the pouch flap. After detaching the flap, the grafted segments were gradually strengthened, and the dog was able to regain ambulation. When considering pad grafting, the entire carpal pad and crescent-shaped segments from the nonweight-bearing surfaces of digital pads are excellent candidates for free grafts without compromising the ambulation of other limbs.