MANIPULATING PREFABRICATED FLAPS - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY EXAMINING FLAP VIABILITY

As flap prefabrication becomes a more commonly used clinical tool, it is necessary to investigate the limitations of this technique. Reconst ructive procedures of the face often require ''custom fitted'' flaps t o satisfy esthetic demands. This study examines and compares the safet y of manipulating thin prefabricated skin flaps versus established axi al pattern skin flaps. Twenty-seven New Zealand white rabbits were use d to determine if prefabricated flaps can be folded 180 degrees around the edge of the rabbits' ears. The survival of these folded prefabric ated flaps was compared with the survival of axial pattern flaps sutur ed into an identically recipient site. In addition, flaps prefabricate d in the same manner were sutured onto a straight recipient bed to eva luate the viability of the newly vascularized tissue. The folded prefa bricated flaps had reduced survival (56%) compared to equivalent folde d axial pattern flaps (85%), P<0.005, The nonmanipulated prefabricated flaps and axial pattern flaps survived completely. (C) 1994 Wiley-Lis s, Inc.