[Experimental study using porous, vascularizable polytetrafluoroethylene in preformed free flaps].

Following radical tumor resections or severe trauma, particularly in the head and neck region, cartilage or bone grafts serve as frame work in defect reconstruction. As an alternative, porous plastic material was used for preformed free flaps in an experimental study with 28 New Zealand rabbits. Due to ingrowth of fibrous tissue and capillaries, it was possible to obtain prefabricated flaps consisting of vascularized porous plastic, a thin layer of fatty gliding tissue and full thickness skin graft. The blood supply of all three layers of the transplant was confirmed by microangiography, Tc 99 m labeled red blood cells and histological examination.