Pericranial healing and the temporalis myo-osseous flap in the rabbit model.
The purpose of this animal study was to determine the rate of revascularization of a temporalis myo-osseous (TMO) flap after pericranial elevation. In 24 rabbits, the right pericranium was raised in entirety through a bicoronal flap at the first operation. The pericranium was then reapproximated in situ. The pericranium was allowed to heal for 1 to 28 days before the second operation. At the second operation, through the same bicoronal flap, right and left temporalis myo-osseous flaps were raised. The left temporalis myo-osseous flap served as a control. Revascularization and viability of the temporalis myo-osseous flaps were studied by using technetium bone scans, india ink injection studies, and histologic study. Results demonstrated that 4 days following pericranial elevation, the temporalis myo-osseous flap is viable and revascularized by the pericranium. Immediate bone scanning and india ink injection showed patent pericranial circulation to the osseous portion of the temporalis myo-osseous flap at 4 days. Histologic study confirmed the viability of the temporalis myo-osseous flap. In conclusion, after pericranial elevation, pericranial healing and revascularization were complete at 4 days. This allowed a viable temporalis myo-osseous flap to be raised successfully at this time.
Lo
A K
AK
Department of Surgery, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Colcleugh
R G
RG
Anderson
C
C
D000818:Animals; D002244:Carbon; D004396:Coloring Agents; D006085:Graft Survival; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D012886:Skull / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
D004396:Coloring Agents; C028433:chinese ink; D002244:Carbon