[Periprosthetic membrane island flap with axial pedicle. Experimental study on the effect of time and expanded...

This experimental study, conducted in the rat, assessed the influence the volume of expansion and time after expansion on the vascularised area of a periprosthetic membrane axial pedicle (epigastric) expanded island flap. 15 Wistar rats were operated on and divided into 3 series according to the expanded volume (20 cc, 40 cc) and the time (1, 2 months). The membrane vascularisation derived from the pedicle was study by microradiography based on geometric parameters. At equal times, the volume essentially increased the length of the pedicle and had little effect on the vascularised area. For equal expanded volumes, increasing latency time increased the length and especially the width of opacification derived from the pedicle. The periprosthetic membrane axial pedicle island flap is an experimental entity whose vascularised area, obtained after a certain amount of expansion, is influenced more by time than by the volume of expansion.