The effect of tension on muscle flaps

An experiment with an animal model was designed to investigate whether an arterialized and innervated muscle flap has an optimal tension when being inset. Arterialized pedicle muscle flap operations using various tensions at the time of insetting were performed on beagles. At three months no acute, recent, or chronic changes were noted in the muscle fiber or in the surrounding connective tissue when biopsy samples were examined microscopically. We conclude that the tension of a pedicle muscle flap makes no difference in its long-term compliance or morphology.