Cranial epigastric perforator flap: a rat model of a true perforator flap

The major advantage of a true perforator flap is the ability to capture the skin portion of what previously was a musculocutaneous flap, while totally excluding the muscle for function preservation. To understand better the physiology and dynamics of this flap subtype, a comparable and reliable animal model is essential. This has now been accomplished in the Sprague-Dawley rat using the same abdominal skin territory of the standard rat transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap, but differing in that all rectus abdominis fascial perforators are isolated via an intramuscular dissection back to the cranial epigastric artery source vessel. Hence, this has appropriately been termed the cranial epigastric perforator flap. From a series of eight rats to date, consistent survival of this flap was as predicted. The dissection itself can be somewhat tedious, but it became easier with experience, making this an excellent training model for learning proper technique in the elevation of any true perforator flap.