[Experimental study and clinical use of thin skin flap with subdermal vascular rete]

The extent and limit of defatting and the reliability of the blood supply of random-pattern and island flaps with subdermal vascular rete were studied in 12 piglets. The results showed that if 3 mm of adipose tissue or one third of superficial fascia was preserved beneath the subdermal vascular network, the survival rate of these two kinds of skin was similar. After division of the pedicle on the sixth postoperative day, random-pattern subdermal vascular rete skin flap could survive with a length-width ratio of 2.5:1. The area of island flap with subdermal vascular rete could be thinned as much as 60%-70%. 27 wounds in 25 patients were covered successfully with random-pattern skin flap with subdermal vascular rete. In addition, transplantation of 13 free flaps with subdermal vascular rete with microsurgical technique was completely successful in 12 patients.