Prediction of skin flap necrosis: a comparative study between laser Doppler flowmetry and fluorescein test in a rat...

Cranially based dorsal skin flaps were raised in a rat model. Fluorescein test and laser doppler flowmetry were used to predict the level of necrosis. The actual border of necrosis after one week was compared with the laser doppler flowmetry prediction: A high correlation (0.96) was found. The two methods also correlated well with each other (0.96).