Wound Healing/Plastic SurgeryLateral thoracic artery perforator-based flap: a new experimental model

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to describe a new experimental perforator-based flap in rats, supplied by lateral thoracic artery perforator.MethodsThrough out the study, two control and two experimental groups were created consisting of six rats in each group. In the first control group (group 1), mid-axillary line and the fourth intercostal space intersection were used as the center of the flap. A 3 × 2 cm flap was designed and elevated above the cutaneous maximus muscle by transecting all connections with the muscle. In the second control group (group 2), the flap was extended caudally, and 3 × 6 cm flap was designed. Then, the flap was elevated in the same manner as it was described for group 1. In the first experimental group (group 3) 3 × 2 cm flap and in the second experimental group (group 4) 3 × 6 cm flap were designed like control groups. The flaps were islanded on a single musculocutan perforator arising from lateral thoracic artery. The surviving skin paddle areas were calculated on postoperative day 7.ResultsThe flap viability was calculated 0% for control groups (groups 1 and 2), 100% for the first experimental group (group 3), between 33.3% and 37.7% for the second experimental group (group 4; mean ± standard deviation, 34.76% ± 1.92%).ConclusionsThis new lateral thoracic artery perforator-based flap has a constant anatomy and reliable survival pattern. Also, easy harvesting and the possibility of designing two flaps per animal make this new flap an appealing model for pathophysiological or pharmacologic researches.