The effect of intradermal corticosteroids on skin flap edema

To validate a model for skin flap edema in the piglet and determine whether intraoperative and postoperative intradermal corticosteroids reduce the edema created.

Prospective, randomized, matched-control animal model.

Animal laboratory.

Twenty-five weight-matched purebred Yorkshire piglets.

Intraoperative and postoperative injections of intradermal triamcinolone.

Flap edema.

A reproducible skin flap edema model was validated in the piglet. Intraoperative intradermal corticosteroids decreased flap edema but postoperative corticosteroids did not.

Clinical improvement in skin flap and supratip fullness may result from mechanisms other than edema.