Experimental comparison of bone revascularization by musculocutaneous and cutaneous flaps

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987 · Plast. Reconstr. Surg.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00006534-198701000-00014· OSTI ID:6928952

Fisher, J; Wood, M B

Revascularization, one of the major components of bone healing, was examined in an experimental model. The radioactive microsphere technique demonstrated that after 4 weeks beneath a musculocutaneous flap, isolated bone segments had significant blood flow, whereas bone beneath a cutaneous flap did not. The muscle flap bone had a blood flow approximately half that of normal control bone. The muscle of the musculocutaneous flap had a blood flow three times that of the skin of the cutaneous flap. The bipedicle cutaneous flap used was designed to have a healthy blood supply, and at 4 weeks it had a blood flow twice that of control skin. Despite this, there was essentially no demonstrable blood flow in the cutaneous flap bone segments at 4 weeks. Only 3 of 17 bone segments underneath cutaneous flaps showed medullary vascularization, whereas 10 of 11 muscle flap bones did. All bone segments underneath muscle flaps showed osteoblasts and osteoclasts at 4 weeks; neither were seen in the cutaneous bone segments. The process of revascularization occurred through an intact cortex and penetrated into the cancellous bone. Because the bone segments were surrounded by an impervious barrier except for one cortical surface, the cellular activity seen is attributed to revascularization by the overlying flap. In this model, a muscle flap was superior to a cutaneous flap in revascularizing isolated bone segments at 4 weeks. This was documented by blood flow measured by the radioactive microsphere technique and by bone histology.

• Research Organization: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
• OSTI ID: 6928952
• Journal Information: Plast. Reconstr. Surg.; (United States), Vol. 1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
MUSCLES
BLOOD FLOW
SKELETON
SKIN
WOUNDS
HEALING
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
MICROSPHERES
RADIOISOTOPES
SURGERY
SWINE
TRACER TECHNIQUES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL RECOVERY
BODY
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
INJURIES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
MEDICINE
ORGANS
RECOVERY
VERTEBRATES
551001* - Physiological Systems- Tracer Techniques
550600 - Medicine