Delayed repair of an extensive lip laceration in a colt using an Estlander flap.

The research outlines a surgical procedure employing an Estlander flap to repair a significant lower lip injury in a young horse (colt). Although post-surgery issues were encountered, it resulted in a cosmetically acceptable and functional restoration of the lip.

Introduction

The study presents a case concerning a colt (young horse) which had approximately 40% of its left lower lip damaged. The repair method used an Estlander flap: a method typically used in reconstructive surgery and named after the Finnish surgeon who developed it. This particular operation aimed to rehabilitate the large defect left in the colt’s lip, documenting any arising problems and their resolutions, and the final results for the colt’s overall well-being, functionality, and physical appearance.

Methodology

• The key method for fixing the lip laceration involved using a vascularized full-thickness Estlander flap.
• This flap was utilized to recover the broad defect in the colt’s lower left lip, where around 40% of the lip was disturbed.

Postoperative Issues

• Once the procedure was complete, they encountered several postoperative problems.
• The first issue to address was providing nutritional support; in other words, ensuring the colt was able to eat during the recovery process.
• The second issue was minimizing movement at the surgical site, presumably to ensure proper healing and avoid disturbing the surgical repair.
• The surgeons also grappled with partial wound dehiscence, which resulted in a salivary fistula.

Outcomes

• Despite the postoperative issues, the surgical site healed well as a whole.
• The significant outcome was that the colt was left with a fully functional and cosmetically satisfactory lower lip following the surgical repair.
• This suggests the use of a vascularized full-thickness Estlander flap can be a successful method to repair a large lip laceration in a horse.