Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Managing complex contaminated abdominal wounds with the French fry
By Kerr SW et al.·2026·Department of Surgery, United States·View original on Europe PMC →
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Original publication title: Subcutaneous Wound Management in Complex, Contaminated Abdominal Wall Reconstruction (AWR) - The "French Fry" Technique.
Plain-English summary
This study looked at a new method called the "French fry" technique for treating complicated and dirty wounds in the abdominal area of dogs and cats. The technique allows for closing the wound without needing a second surgery, which is usually required for other methods. In this study, 27 pets with significant abdominal wall issues were treated using this method, and the results showed that fewer pets had complications than expected. Specifically, only about 26% had issues like infections, which is much lower than the predicted rate of nearly 54%. Overall, the "French fry" technique appears to be effective in reducing complications in these types of surgeries.
Abstract
IntroductionPrimary closure of contaminated abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR) wounds carries significant wound complication risks. Vacuum-assisted, delayed primary closure (VADPC) improves outcomes but requires a second anesthetic. The "French fry" technique (FFT) utilizes VA benefits without reoperation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of FFT in complex, contaminated AWR.MethodsA single center's open AWRs (CDC class 2-4) managed with FFT were reviewed. Technique: incision is closed except for small gaps to place subcutaneous 1 × 1 × 8cm NPWT foam "French fries" at 5-6 cm intervals under an incisional NPWT (-125 mmHg). FF are removed POD3 at the bedside and precise measurement is taken to assure all FFs are accounted for. Incisional NPWT is continued. Primary outcome included wound complications compared to Carolinas Equation for Determining Associated Risks (CeDAR) predictions.ResultsTwenty-seven AWR patients (BMI 31.6 ± 5.9 kg/m<sup>2</sup>; 40.7% diabetic; 66.7% recurrent hernias; 100% CDC wound class 2-4; massive defect size 384.2 ± 143.8 cm<sup>2</sup>) underwent FFT. Biologic mesh was placed in 74.1% of cases; 18.5% of defects were closed primarily. Fascial closure was achieved in 92.6%. CeDAR-predicted wound complication rate was 53.8%. Observed wound complication rate was 25.9%, including infection (14.8%) requiring intervention, with 7.4% requiring reopening of their wounds. There were no mesh infections and no hernia recurrences over average follow-up of 8.2 ± 19.8 months.ConclusionFFT is a practical, single-stage, strategy for contaminated AWR, reducing complications compared to predicted risk.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Europe PMC: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42060489