Autogenous skin transplant for repair of traumatic ventral hernia in sheep

Traumatic ventral abdominal hernia is common in sheep. Fifteen adult sheep affected with large ventral hernia defect were treated. Skin was harvested from the same sheep and replaced for the defective abdominal muscle and sutured. Subcutaneous tissue and skin were opposed over the transplanted skin and sutured. The animals were evaluated clinically, haematologically and by biopsy. Clinically, the animals ate and drank normally after surgery. The transplanted skins were perfectly secured in place. Leukocytosis with neutrophilia and lymphopenia were noticed in 77.7% of cases until the 5th day post-operation. Biopsy results indicated vascularization, atretic hair follicles and no signs of rejection. After six months there were signs of re-herniation and the transplanted skin began to enlarge, showing a defect in the abdominal wall in all cases