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J Reconstr Microsurg 2019; 35(07): 485-488
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1679882
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Anterolateral Thigh Flap in a Chicken Model: A Novel Perforator Training Model

Alfio Luca Costa   #
1   Department of Human Pathology of the Adult, the Child and the Adolescent, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
,
Filippo Cucinotta   #
2   Department of Engineering, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
,
Antonina Fazio
1   Department of Human Pathology of the Adult, the Child and the Adolescent, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
,
Gabriele Delia
1   Department of Human Pathology of the Adult, the Child and the Adolescent, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
,
Mariarosaria Galeano
1   Department of Human Pathology of the Adult, the Child and the Adolescent, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
,
Francesco Stagno d'Alcontres
1   Department of Human Pathology of the Adult, the Child and the Adolescent, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
,
Bruno Battiston
3   Department of Traumatology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Citta della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
,
Pierluigi Tos
4   Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology for Hand, ASST Gaetano Pini, Milan, Italy
,
Alexandru Georgescu
5   Department of Plastic Surgery, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Rehabilitation Hospital, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
,
Michele Rosario Colonna
1   Department of Human Pathology of the Adult, the Child and the Adolescent, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

05 July 2018

14 January 2019

Publication Date:
22 February 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Background Preclinical training in perforator flap harvesting is typically conducted on living animal models; however, repeated training is not possible with these models because of ethical and/or economical constraints. We describe an anterolateral thigh flap (ALT flap) training model using chicken thigh that seems to be an appropriate training model prior, for example, to raise a perforator flap in a living rat or swine model.

Methods A total of 10 chicken legs were used in this study. Six chicken legs were anatomically dissected to confirm the presence of the perforator and to identify the main vascular tree. In four chicken legs, a skin flap was planned based on the perforator and intramuscular dissection was performed under magnification.

Results The perforator was identified in all dissections and was consistently found 3 cm above the line extending from the patella to the head of the femur in its third proximal. Proximally, the mean diameter of the artery and vein was 0.56 (σ = 0.04) and 0.84 (σ = 0.06) mm, respectively. The mean dissection time to raise the flap was 88 (σ = 7) min.

Conclusion This is the first description of a nonliving biological simulation model for training in perforator flap dissection that mimics an ALT flap. As an ex vivo chicken model, it is a cost effective and readily accessible model suitable for repeated practice.

Keywords

perforator flap - chicken - training - ALT

# indicates equal author contribution.


 

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