title: Experimental model for the study of soft tissue fixation methods on skin-pericranium flaps in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop an experimental model to study and radiologically monitor displacement of skin flaps in the pericranium of rats subjected to traction and surgical fixation using suture anchored in a skull bone tunnel or with N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (Histoacryl™) surgical adhesive.
  
  
  METHODS
  Radiological markers were placed in the subcutis of Wistar rats undergoing subperiosteal detachment of the pericranium with pulling and fixation of the flap. We performed radiography on postoperative days 3, 7, 14, 21, and 45. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Qualitative analysis of the data indicated that the flaps in the surgical adhesive group remained in place with no change from the immediate postoperative position. However, the flaps in the suture anchored in the skull bone tunnel group and in the control group showed similar healing, with a loss of attachment of 9.7% and 22%, respectively, compared with the immediate postoperative position. There was no quantitative difference between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This experimental model created acceptable experimental conditions for testing different soft tissue fixation methods. The use of tissue fixatives contributed to better placement of pericranium-cutaneous flaps, and surgical adhesive was superior to suture anchor in the skull bone tunnel for fixation of pericranium-cutaneous flaps.
authors.forename: William César
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Cavazana
authors.forename: Roberto Kenji Nakamura
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Cuman
authors.forename: Wilton Mitsunari
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Takeshita
authors.forename: Luis Augusto
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Passeri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011859:Radiography; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015361:Rhytidoplasty / Q000379:methods; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000502:physiology*; D053441:Suture Anchors; D013997:Time Factors; D014014:Tissue Adhesives; D016707:Tissue Fixation / Q000379:methods*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D014014:Tissue Adhesives