COMPLICATIONS IN CIRCULATION HAMPER THE REINNERVATION OF RAT GROIN FLAPS

The reinnervation of rat groin island flaps and microneurovascular fla ps was investigated. The nerve trunk leading to the flap was transsect ed in all rats and the nerve ends were either resutured or ligated. Se nsory and adrenergic reinnervation of the flaps was studied semiquanti tatively after 20 weeks using specific antisera for calcitonin gene-re lated peptide (CGRP) as a marker for sensory nerves, neuropeptide Y (N PY) for adrenergic nerves and Protein Gene Product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) as ge neral neuronal marker. The reinnervation of island groin flaps was com pared to that in corresponding microneurovascular flaps. The nerve sut ure clearly increased both sensory and adrenergic reinnervation. In is land flaps the reinnervation was good throughout the flap, whereas in microsurgical flaps the reinnervation pattern was more sparse and patc hier. Evidently the cause for this was circulatory disorders and the r eperfusion injury which takes place after the ischemic period in micro surgical flaps.