title: Flap prefabrication using the "vascular crane" principle: an experimental study and clinical application.
abstract: Techniques for tissue transfer have continued to evolve. Free flap prefabrication represents a further progression of well known plastic surgery principles in the arena of tissue transfer. This report presents an experimental study demonstrating that the repeated use of a vascular pedicle to prefabricate flaps in the rabbit is possible. There is a decrease in flap viability with the second transfer. A clinical case using this repeated transfer or "crane" principle is also reported. We conclude that the repeated use of a vascular pedicle to prefabricate multiple flaps is a viable option in selected cases.
authors.affiliation: Brigham/Children's/Harvard Division of Plastic Surgery, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Pribaz
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Maitz
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Fine
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002056:Burns / Q000601:surgery*; D005145:Face / Q000601:surgery*; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009667:Nose Deformities, Acquired / Q000601:surgery; D011817:Rabbits; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*