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The real superior gluteal artery perforator flap model in pigs: An anatomical study with applications for
1Department of Orthopedics, SiJing hospital of SongJiang District, Shanghai, China.
Background:
The superior gluteal artery perforator flap is commonly used in the clinic. This cadaveric study was designed to explore the anatomy and harvest of a real pig model with a superior gluteal artery perforator (SGAP-p-r) flap.
Methods:
The vascular anatomy and surgical procedures of the SGAP-p-r flap were conducted in ten (n = 10) and five (n = 5), respectively, lard-infused pig cadavers. The primary parameter was the course of the pedicle of the SGAP-p-r flap. A comparison between the SGAP-p-r flap and its human counterpart was made.
Results:
The pedicle of the SGAP-p-r flap was consistently present in all 10 samples and penetrated through the intermuscular septum between the gluteus superficialis and the biceps femoris. The source artery of the SGAP-p-r flap is the superior gluteal artery, which has several muscular branches into the gluteus profundus, the gluteus superficialis and the biceps femoris. The SGAP-p-r flap was designed in a circular area with a radius of 3 cm, and the center was 3-4 cm on the head side of the ischial tuberosity. The SGAP-p-r flap can be harvested as a type of chimeric flap containing the gluteus superficialis, and skin. Moreover, a wide range of musculocutaneous flaps based on the gluteus superficialis can be designed based on the SGAP-p-r flap and the SGAP-p-e flap.
Conclusion:
Both the vascular anatomy and surgical procedures of the SGAP-p-r flap are similar to those of humans. Pigs can serve as a suitable animal model for superior gluteal artery perforator flaps.
