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A new experimental flap model: free muscle perforator flap
Omer Ozkan1, O Koray Coskunfirat, H Ege Ozgentas
1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey. omozkan@hotmail.com
Annals of Plastic Surgery
|December 4, 2003
Summary
Researchers developed a new free perforator flap in rats, the first of its kind in an animal model. This reliable flap model demonstrates complete survival, paving the way for future studies.
Area of Science:
- Microsurgery
- Experimental surgery
- Animal models
Background:
- Perforator flaps are widely used clinically but not yet established in animal models.
- A free perforator flap in an animal model has not been previously developed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a novel free perforator flap model in the rat.
- To establish a reliable model for future research.
Main Methods:
- Anatomic dissection of popliteal vessels in 5 rats.
- Creation of a posterior thigh perforator flap based on the popliteal pedicle in 10 rats.
- Free flap transfer to the groin with anastomosis in 5 rats; control group (5 rats) without anastomosis.
Main Results:
- Complete survival of cutaneous islands in all free flaps.
- Total necrosis observed in all flaps of the control group.
- Demonstrated the viability of the free posterior thigh perforator flap.
Conclusions:
- The free posterior thigh perforator flap is a reliable and true perforator flap model for rats.
- Advantages include a consistent vascular pedicle, novelty as the first free perforator flap in rats, small-animal harvesting, and no need for isogeneic rats.