FLAP PREFABRICATION USING THE VASCULAR CRANE PRINCIPLE - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY AND CLINICAL-APPLICATION

Techniques for tissue transfer have continued to evolve. Free flap pre fabrication represents a further progression of well known plastic sur gery principles in the arena of tissue transfer. This report presents an experimental study demonstrating that the repeated use of a vascula r pedicle to prefabricate flaps in the rabbit is possible. There is a decrease in flap viability with the second transfer. A clinical case u sing this repeated transfer or ''Crane'' principle is also reported. W e conclude that the repeated use of a vascular pedicle to prefabricate multiple flaps is a viable option in selected cases.