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Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2014; 27(05): 379-386
DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-14-02-0030
Original Research
Schattauer GmbH

Locally injected autologous platelet-rich plasma enhanced tissue perfusion and improved survival of long subdermal plexus skin flaps in dogs

M. Karayannopoulou
1   Department of Clinical Studies, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
,
L. G. Papazoglou
1   Department of Clinical Studies, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
,
P. Loukopoulos
2   Laboratory of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
,
G. Kazakos
1   Department of Clinical Studies, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
,
A. Chantes
3   Department of Plastic Surgery, Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
,
N. Giannakas
1   Department of Clinical Studies, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
,
I. Savvas
1   Department of Clinical Studies, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
,
D. Psalla
2   Laboratory of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
,
M. Kritsepi-Konstantinou
4   Department of Clinical Studies, Diagnostic Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
,
D. Dionyssiou
3   Department of Plastic Surgery, Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 18 February 2014

Accepted: 17 July 2014

Publication Date:
22 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

Objectives: Distal flap necrosis remains a major complication in subdermal plexus (random) skin flaps. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been shown to improve the survival of ischemic random skin flaps in rats. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of locally injected autologous PRP on the survival of long (5:1 length-to-width ratio) subdermal plexus skin flaps in dogs.

Methods: A 2x10 cm subdermal plexus skin flap was created bilaterally on the abdominal wall of six Beagle dogs. One randomly selected side received 2.5 ml of fresh autologous PRP injected evenly between sutures underneath the flap, whereas the other side was left untreated (control). Skin flap survival was evaluated macroscopically, histologically and by laser-Doppler flowmetry measurements of tissue perfusion.

Results: Flap percentage survival on day 10 (96.3% versus 74.5%; p = 0.046) and tissue perfusion (p <0.036) were significantly higher in PRP-treated flaps compared with controls. Histologically, there was less oedema in PRP-treated flaps compared to controls (p = 0.01), whereas collagen production and angiogenesis did not differ significantly between the two groups.

Clinical significance: The use of locally injected autologous PRP increases tissue perfusion and improves the survival of long subdermal plexus skin flaps in dogs.

Keywords

Dog - Laser-Doppler flowmetry - long skin flap survival - platelet-rich plasma - subdermal plexus skin flap
 

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