ABSTRACT
Background: Perforator flap surgery is a complex surgery that is based on the use
of a highly precise microsurgical technique that differs slightly from a conventional
free flap, especially the intramuscular dissection of the pedicle. Herein, we report
a new model of a perforator flap in rat, the anteromedial thigh flap, as a teaching
model of a perforator flap. It is based on a constant musculocutaneous perforator
that arises from the muscular vessels for the gracilis muscle. Material and Methods:
Twenty Wistar rats were used in this study. In 10 rats, an anatomical study was performed
by means of anatomical dissection, Chinese ink injection, and microangiography studies,
and in 10 rats, a flap transplantation study was carried out by means of transferring
a pedicled perforator flap to the abdomen and monitoring its viability by direct inspection
on the seventh day. Results: Anatomical studies revealed a constant perforator that
has an average length of pedicle up to 20 mm, an external diameter from 0.2 to 0.3
mm, and supplies blood to an area of approximately 3 × 3 cm of the anteromedial region
of the thigh. In the flap studies, all the flaps survived on the seventh day after
operation. Conclusions: The anteromedial thigh perforator flap is a reliable, reproducible
inexpensive, replicates the handling of a perforator flap very closely, and has an
easy method to record the outcomes by visual inspection, so we think that it is a
useful tool as a teaching model for training a perforator flap in the preclinical
setting.
KEYWORDS
Perforator flap - microsurgical training model - rat
REFERENCES
a.rodriguez.ps@gmail.com
