CC BY-NC 4.0 · Arch Plast Surg 2017; 44(04): 293-300
DOI: 10.5999/aps.2017.44.4.293
Original Article

The Chicken Thigh Adductor Profundus Free Muscle Flap: A Novel Validated Non-Living Microsurgery Simulation Training Model

Georgios Pafitanis
Academic Plastic Surgery, The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
,
Yasmine Serrar
Academic Plastic Surgery, The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
,
Maria Raveendran
Academic Plastic Surgery, The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
,
Ali Ghanem
Academic Plastic Surgery, The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
,
Simon Myers
Academic Plastic Surgery, The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
› Author Affiliations

Background Simulation training is becoming an increasingly important component of skills acquisition in surgical specialties, including Plastic Surgery. Non-living simulation models have an established place in Plastic Surgical microsurgery training, and support the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement of animal use. A more sophisticated version of the basic chicken thigh microsurgery model has been developed to include dissection of a type 1-muscle flap and is described and validated here.

Methods A step-by-step dissection guide on how to perform the chicken thigh adductor profundus free muscle flap is demonstrated. Forty trainees performed the novel simulation muscle flap on the last day of a 5-day microsurgery course. Pre- and post-course microvascular anastomosis assessment, along with micro dissection and end product (anastomosis lapse index) assessment, demonstrated skills acquisition.

Results The average time to dissect the flap by novice trainees was 82±24 minutes, by core trainees 90±24 minutes, and by higher trainees 64±21 minutes (P=0.013). There was a statistically significant difference in the time to complete the anastomosis between the three levels of training (P=0.001) and there was a significant decrease in the time taken to perform the anastomosis following course completion (P<0.001). Anastomosis lapse index scores improved for all cohorts with post-test average anastomosis lapse index score of 3±1.4 (P<0.001).

Conclusions The novel chicken thigh adductor profundus free muscle flap model demonstrates face and construct validity for the introduction of the principles of free tissue transfer. The low cost, constant, and reproducible anatomy makes this simulation model a recommended addition to any microsurgical training curriculum.

This manuscript was presented during the 2016 ASRM Annual Meeting, on January 16–19, 2016 in Scottsdale, AZ, USA.




Publication History

Received: 29 December 2016

Accepted: 05 April 2017

Article published online:
20 April 2022

© 2017. The Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, permitting unrestricted noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

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