Pedicled prelaminated capsular flaps for coverage of skin defect in a rat model

In reconstructive surgery defects are closed using pedicled or free flaps. By raising these flaps the reconstructive surgeon creates new defects, which in turn are closed primarily or with the use of skin grafts. Inevitably, this results in extra scars that may be visible and may also lead to diminished function. In an attempt to avoid full-thickness donor site skin defects in reconstructive surgery, the principle of prefabrication has been modified to produce capsular flaps. In a rat model, we created prefabricated and prelaminated pedicled capsular flaps to fill a full-thickness skin defect. Both femoral vascular bundles in 10 Wistar rats were sandwiched between two silicone sheets. The capsule formed between the two sheets received its main blood supply from this vascular pedicle, and was used as carrier for a skin graft. After ligation of the distal femoral vessels a pedicled prelaminated capsular flap was raised on the proximal femoral vessels. The flap was brought to the surface for closure of an experimentally created abdominal skin defect. All 20 flaps survived, and there were no surgery-related complications. Comparison with controls indicated that flap survival was attributable to the blood supply from the vascular axis. Pedicled prelaminated capsular flaps can be created reliably and reproducibly, confirming the results of earlier studies, and are of value in reconstructive surgery.