A new method for monitoring circulation of grafted bone by use of electrochemically generated hydrogen.

The patency of the anastomosed blood vessels in a free vascularized bone graft is difficult to ascertain during the early postoperative stage. For this purpose, the local blood flow was measured by means of electrochemically generated hydrogen. Although only three cases have been tested thus far, the method proves to be a simple and useful monitor of the blood flow in a free vascularized bone graft.