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Updated: May 5, 2026

Step By Step: Microsurgical training method combining two nonliving animal models

Step By Step: Microsurgical training method combining two nonliving animal models

Published on: May 9, 2015

Supermicrosurgery Training Model: A Step-by-Step Illustrated Guide to the Chicken Thigh Free Flap.

Carolina Chaves¹, Leonor Caixeiro¹, Filipa Poleri¹

¹Plastic, Reconstructive, Cranio-Maxillofacial and Hand Surgery and Microsurgery Unit, Unidade Local de Saúde Gaia/Espinho, Vila Nova de Gaia, PRT.

|March 11, 2026

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The chicken thigh offers a cost-effective, reproducible training model for microsurgery practice. This model allows surgeons to hone essential skills in vessel anastomosis without sacrificing live animals.

Area of Science:

Surgical training
Microsurgery
Animal models

Background:

Microsurgery is a critical skill for plastic and reconstructive surgeons.
Mastering microsurgery requires extensive practice.
Cost-effective and ethical training models are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

To present a step-by-step guide for harvesting and anastomosing a chicken thigh muscular free flap.
To evaluate the chicken thigh as a training model for microsurgery and supermicrosurgery.

Main Methods:

Harvesting the puboischiofemoralis pars lateralis muscle from a chicken thigh.
Anastomosing the muscle flap's pedicle to distal femoral vessels.
Utilizing illustrated instructions for a reproducible technique.

Keywords:

chicken thigh free flap microsurgery training non-living model plastic surgery supermicrosurgery

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 5, 2026

Step By Step: Microsurgical training method combining two nonliving animal models

Step By Step: Microsurgical training method combining two nonliving animal models

Published on: May 9, 2015

A Model of Free Tissue Transfer: The Rat Epigastric Free Flap

A Model of Free Tissue Transfer: The Rat Epigastric Free Flap

Published on: January 15, 2017

Porcine As a Training Module for Head and Neck Microvascular Reconstruction

Porcine As a Training Module for Head and Neck Microvascular Reconstruction

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Main Results:

The chicken thigh model accurately mimics human vessels, with dissected vessels as small as 0.8 mm.
The puboischiofemoralis muscular flap was consistently harvestable and anastomosed.
The model provided a cost-effective simulation for microsurgical vessel preparation and anastomosis.

Conclusions:

The chicken thigh puboischiofemoralis complex muscular free flap is a reproducible and accessible training model.
This model is suitable for practicing microsurgical and supermicrosurgical skills.
It offers a valuable alternative to animal sacrifice for surgical training.