M. Mutaf et al., A TRUE OSTEOMYOCUTANEOUS FREE-FLAP MODEL IN RATS - THE SAPHENOUS ARTERY OSTEOMYOCUTANEOUS FLAP, Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 96(7), 1995, pp. 1629-1635
A new composite free-flap model, namely, the saphenous artery osteomyo
cutaneous flap, is described in the rat. This is a true osteomyocutane
ous flap composed of a skin island from the medial aspect of the lower
leg, the gracilis and semitendinosus muscles, and a bone segment from
the tibia based on the saphenous vascular pedicle. After anatomic stu
dies in 10 rats, 20 flaps were transplanted microsurgically to the abd
ominal region in the recipient rats with a 90 percent success rate. In
selected animals, arteriography was carried out. The results from gro
ss observation of the flap survival and histologic and fluorochrome bo
ne-labeling studies revealed a complete survival for each component of
the flap in all animals with a patent vascular pedicle at 2 weeks aft
er transfer. The model seems to be suitable for use in metabolic, vasc
ular, and immunologic experimental studies on composite free flaps.