title: The anteromedial thigh flap as a training model of a perforator flap in rat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Perforator flap surgery is a complex surgery that is based on the use of a highly precise microsurgical technique that differs slightly from a conventional free flap, especially the intramuscular dissection of the pedicle. Herein, we report a new model of a perforator flap in rat, the anteromedial thigh flap, as a teaching model of a perforator flap. It is based on a constant musculocutaneous perforator that arises from the muscular vessels for the gracilis muscle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty Wistar rats were used in this study. In 10 rats, an anatomical study was performed by means of anatomical dissection, Chinese ink injection, and microangiography studies, and in 10 rats, a flap transplantation study was carried out by means of transferring a pedicled perforator flap to the abdomen and monitoring its viability by direct inspection on the seventh day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anatomical studies revealed a constant perforator that has an average length of pedicle up to 20 mm, an external diameter from 0.2 to 0.3 mm, and supplies blood to an area of approximately 3 x 3 cm of the anteromedial region of the thigh. In the flap studies, all the flaps survived on the seventh day after operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The anteromedial thigh perforator flap is a reliable, reproducible inexpensive, replicates the handling of a perforator flap very closely, and has an easy method to record the outcomes by visual inspection, so we think that it is a useful tool as a teaching model for training a perforator flap in the preclinical setting.
authors: Service of Plastic Surgery and Burns, Unit of Experimental Surgery, Juan Canalejo University Hospital, A Coruña, Spain. a.rodriguez.ps@gmail.com
authors: Andrés
authors: A
authors: Rodríguez
authors: Angel
authors: A
authors: Alvarez
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Aguirrezabalaga
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Martelo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000193:education*; D023421:Models, Animal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods