[The influence of over-expansion on the blood supply of an axial-pattern flap].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of over-expansion on the viability and vascularity of an axial-pattern flap.


METHODS
Tissue expanders were implanted subcutaneously on the buttock of the mini-pig. After over expansion, an axial-pattern over-expanded skin flap was elevated in the pig of the experimental group. The differences in flap survival, LDF, MDA content and fluorescein stain were observed between the control and the experimental groups. The vascular architecture changes were also recorded using histological and clearing specimen examination.


RESULTS
The microcirculation in the distal segment of the axial flap was significantly weakened after over-expansion. There were injury manifestation, change in vessel distribution and reduction of vascular territory in the axial over-expanded flap.


CONCLUSIONS
Over-expansion could cause chronic injuries to the axial vessel network and damage the blood supply of the axial-pattern flap.
Lu
Gang
G
Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100041, China.
Zhou
Gang
G
Chen
Guangyu
G
Fan
Fei
F
Li
Binbin
B
Wang
Lianzhao
L
D000818:Animals; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008833:Microcirculation; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D015626:Tissue Expansion / Q000379:methods*; D015625:Tissue Expansion Devices
D008315:Malondialdehyde