title: The additive effects of carnitine and ascorbic acid on distally burned dorsal skin flap in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of combined use of L-carnitine and vitamin C on partially burned skin flap in an experimental rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the rat dorsal skin, a 10 x 3 cm flap was marked. The most distal 3 x 3 cm part was burned to full thickness. Twenty-four rats were randomized into four groups with 6 animals in each. Group 1 was simply followed up. Group 2 was given 0.5 mg/kg vitamin C per day for 7 days, group 3 100 mg/kg carnitine per day for 7 days, and group 4 both carnitine and vitamin C. On the eighth postoperative day, the animals were sacrificed and examined. The surviving and necrotic areas were determined by macroscopic examination and measured with a planimeter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The areas of flap necrosis were measured. The median surviving areas and areas of flap necrosis, respectively, of the groups were: group 1, 16.0 cm(2) and 14.0 cm(2); group 2, 18.25 cm(2) and 11.75 cm(2); group 3, 20.0 cm(2) and 10 cm(2) ; and group 4, 23.75 cm(2) and 6.25 cm(2). The surviving areas of the groups were found to be significantly different (p=0.000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk of ischemia-induced necrosis in flap attempts made in damaged tissues may be reduced by the combination of two promising agents, L-carnitine and vitamin C. L-carnitine appears to be the major contributing factor that reduces necrosis, and vitamin C an additive agent.
authors.affiliation: Mersin University Medical School, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Mersin, Turkey. cleohus@gmail.com
authors.forename: Emrah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Basterzi
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Majka
authors.forename: Sakir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Unal
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sari
authors.forename: Ferit
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Demirkan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002056:Burns / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002331:Carnitine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013524:Surgical Flaps
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D002331:Carnitine