Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Augmented Full-Thickness Free Skin Grafting in Cats: Outcome in 10 Grafts Transferred to Six Cats

The study evaluated the use of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) to augment full-thickness skin grafting in six cats with soft tissue and skin defects. The process involved initial wound management with NPWT, followed by grafting skin from the lateral abdominal wall and applying NPWT at –125 mmHg for 3 days. The mean duration of open wound management was 21.4 days, and NPWT was used for an average of 8 days. Out of 10 grafts, 7 had 100% take, 2 had 95% take, and 1 had 80% take, resulting in a mean take rate of 97%. The therapy was well tolerated, with normal hair regrowth in four cats, sparse regrowth in one, and no regrowth in another. Skin sensation was normal in all grafted areas. The study concluded that NPWT is a feasible option for skin graft fixation in cats, with a slightly higher graft take rate compared to previous reports.