Shock Wave Therapy Reduces Necrotic Flap Zones and Induces VEGF Expression in Animal Epigastric Skin Flap Model

Romed Meirer; Andrea Brunner; Martina Deibl; Markus Oehlbauer; Hildegunde Piza-Katzer; Florian S. Kamelger

doi:10.1055/s-2007-981506

Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery, Table of Contents

J Reconstr Microsurg 2007; 23(4): 231-236
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-981506

Shock Wave Therapy Reduces Necrotic Flap Zones and Induces VEGF Expression in Animal Epigastric Skin Flap Model

Romed Meirer¹ ^, ² , Andrea Brunner³ , Martina Deibl⁴ , Markus Oehlbauer¹ ^, ² , Hildegunde Piza-Katzer¹ ^, ² ^, ⁵ , Florian S. Kamelger

¹Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck
²Ludwig Boltzman Institute for Quality Control in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vienna
³Institute of Pathology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck
⁴Department of Medical Statistics, Computer Sciences and Health Management, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck
⁵Department of Trauma Surgery and Sport Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The effect of extracorporeal shock wave (ESW) therapy on skin flap survival and growth factor expression was investigated in a rat model using epigastric skin flap. Treatment and control groups each contained 20 animals. ESW effectively enhanced epigastric skin flap survival by significant reduction of areas of necrotic zones. At day 7 after the operation, necrotic zones of 4.2% were found in the ESW-treated group compared with 18.3% in the control group (p < 0.01). Concomitantly, in tissue samples adjacent to the necrosis areas, increased vascular endothelial growth factor expression was observed in the ESW-treated animals (median 84.5%, range 57.4 to 94.5%) compared with the control group (median 46.7%, range 29.1 to 93.1%; p < 0.1). However, for expression of basic fibroblast growth factor, no difference was found between the two groups. The authors conclude that the success of the shock wave treatment may partly be due to modulation of growth factor expression.

KEYWORDS

Extracorporeal shock wave - skin flap - growth factors

Full Text

References

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Florian S KamelgerM.D.

Department of Traumatology and Sports Medicine, Medical University Innsbruck

Anichstrasse 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria