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CC BY 4.0 · Surg J (N Y) 2016; 02(02): e37-e41
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1584263
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Investigating the Impact of Flap Overdesign on Viability

Andrew S. Aherrera
1   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Burlington, Massachusetts
,
David J. Pincus
1   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Burlington, Massachusetts
,
Adam J. Vernadakis
1   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Burlington, Massachusetts
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

14 January 2016

11 April 2016

Publication Date:
06 June 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Background Partial or complete flap necrosis is a detrimental outcome complicating reconstructive surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of flap overdesign on viability in the rat model.

Methods Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into four groups receiving flaps of varying length-to-width ratios: 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, and 5:1. All animals had caudally based, modified McFarlane-style flap created. Areas of survival were assessed 14 days postoperatively and compared among groups using one-way analysis of variance.

Results The mean areas of flap survival were 8.0 ± 0.0 cm2, 7.8 ± 1.1 cm2, 8.3 ± 1.1 cm2, and 8.1 ± 1.5 cm2 for the 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, and 5:1 length-to-width ratio groups, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in mean areas of flap survival among groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusion Flap overdesign does not increase the risk of flap necrosis in a random-pattern flap.

Keywords

flap - overdesign - flap necrosis - viability - reconstructive surgery - tissue defect
 

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