WOUND MANAGEMENT IN A JUVENILE TIGER (PANTHERA TIGRIS) WITH VACUUM-ASSISTED CLOSURE (V.A.C. THERAPY)

A 6-wk-old tiger (Panthera tigris) was evaluated for severe skin lacerations from an adult tiger attack. A caudal superficial epigastric skin flap was surgically placed to cover a defect that could not be closed over the hind limb; however, the skin flap did not adhere well to the granulation tissue over a period of 1 mo. The granulation bed matured and deteriorated. A subatmospheric pressure technique (vacuum-assisted closure, V.A.C.® Therapy™, Kinetic Concepts Inc., San Antonio, Texas 78219, USA) was utilized, and flap adherence occurred after 4 wk. This technique should be considered when dealing with severe or chronic wounds in tractable animals.