Comparative viability of expanded and unexpanded axial pattern skin flaps in pigs.

A comparison of viable areas of axial pattern flaps post inset was made between expanded and non-expanded pig buttock island flaps. The deep circumflex iliac artery and vein supply approximately the proximal 14 x 10 cm area of this flap. Larger flaps were raised on expanded and control sides of eight pigs to determine if expansion increased the area of survival. In six of eight pigs whose initial tissue expansion did not create more than approximately a 50% increase in skin area, the expanded flaps had a statistically significant increase in viable skin area (proportionally) 10 days post inset than their control flaps (p less than 0.05). Two other pigs did not conform to this pattern. Their initial tissue expansion was greater than 50%, and the resulting area of flap viability was proportionally less in expanded flaps than the control flaps.