[Changes of the dermal-fascial autograft after transplantation on the vascular-nervous connections using a...

In 56 dogs 86 microsurgical operations on transplantation of free dermal-facial autografts from the internal knee surface have been performed on the hidden vascular-nervous bundle. The animals have been observed for 1 day up to 1 year. The implanted grafts (63) have been studied, using a complex of anatomical, histological and roentgenological methods. During early time (up to 7 days) after the operation in the flap signs of edema, dystrophy and inflammatory infiltration of tissues predominate. The graft gets blood at the expense of the restored main artery and has no vascular connections with the surrounding tissues. Its nervous conductors are fragmented. During 2 weeks--1 month epidermis completely regenerates along the line of the dermal suture. In the flap bed mature granulations result in vascular connections with its surrounding tissues. These connections become stable by the end of the first month, this means that the graft has implanted. Its nervous fibers are also restored. Long-term observations demonstrate that the adaptive changes of the flap and its vascular bed are near to completion. By the end of the 1st year restoration of the main innervational connections of the graft takes place. According to the data obtained, the nervous conductors grow into it along the sewed hidden nerve and along the course of paravasal nerve plexuses. Across the scar from the surrounding tissues the dermal-fascial autograft does not reinnervate.