Fascia-vascularized vs. muscle-vascularized prefabricated flaps using tissue expanders: an experimental study in a rat model.

The aim of this study was to compare the applicability and viability of a fascia-vascularized pedicle (FVP) with those of a muscle-vascularized pedicle (MVP) in the prefabrication of a secondary vascularized pedicle flap using a tissue expander. Experiments were carried out in 32 male Wistar rats. The animals were divided into two groups--Group 1 (n = 10), using a skeletonized pedicle of the right saphenous artery, vein, and nerve with a segment of 8 x 10 mm fascia on its distal end (FVP group); and Group 2 (n = 10), using a 3-mm perivascular cuff of muscle with a segment of 8 x 10 mm fascia and gracilis muscle on its distal end (MVP group). The experiments demonstrated that there was a larger area of flap survival in the expanded muscle-vascularized pedicle flaps (96.6 +/- 3.6 percent) than that found in the expanded fascia-vascularized pedicle flaps (83.0 +/- 14.4 percent) in this rat model (p < 0.005). The microangiography of the flaps showed increased vascularity of the muscle cuff at the end of the vascular pedicle in Group 2.