PMC7407037_01
Self-inflating hygroscopic tissue expander (Oxtex Ltd.) before and after expansion.
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A hygroscopic self-inflating tissue expander (Expaniderm, Oxtex Limited, Witney OX29 7DX, UK) (Figure 1) was chosen in this case to provide controlled skin expansion without necessitating additional interventions such as bandaging or insufflation-port maintenance.
Immediate postoperative (a) photograph and (b) dorsoventral radiograph of a Massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) with two self-inflating hygroscopic tissue expanders implanted subcutaneously under the lateral scales.
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fig2
A second implant was placed approximately 1 cm cranial to the first using the same surgical technique (Figure 2(a)). Postoperative radiographs were taken to provide baseline images showing placement of the semiradiopaque implants (Figure 2(b)).
(a) Photograph and (b) dorsoventral radiograph of a Massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) showing maximal expansion of two self-inflating hygroscopic tissue expanders four weeks after implant placement.
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fig3
A maximal expansion of 16 mm in height was achieved in 4 weeks (Figure 3(a)), and radiographs showed minimal displacement of the underlying ribs (Figure 3(b)).
Massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus). Intraoperative photograph taken after extraction of two self-inflating hygroscopic tissue expanders. The excess expanded skin is visible on the near side of the incision. There is a thin band of soft tissue between the two implant sites (arrow). The ventral surface of the neoplasm is displacing the ventral scales (arrowhead).
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The associated subcutaneous tissues and skin appeared vital with no overt fibrosis of the expanded skin and surrounding tissues (Figure 4).
Postoperative photograph showing incorporation of expanded lateral skin into an osteosarcoma excision site in a Massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus).
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The skin was opposed in a Y-shape using 4-0 PDS with a horizontal mattress pattern, incorporating the expanded lateral skin into the center of the closure to decrease tension across the incision site (Figure 5).
Massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus). Low-magnification (20x) photomicrograph of a dermal osteosarcoma composed of a well-demarcated, expansile mass of haphazardly arranged spindle cells interspersed between irregular islands of bone and myxomatous matrix.
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Histologic examination of the mass confirmed a diagnosis of osteosarcoma (Figure 6).