A new experimental model for de novo generation of an axial pattern
island flap has been designed in a rat model. The purpose of this study was to make a sufficient vascular carrier, as an island
capsule flap, with only vascular pedicles and addition of
collagen fibers induced by
foreign-body reaction. The femoral arteriovenous bundle was isolated and sandwiched between two 2.5 x 1.5 cm
Silastic sheets. Eight weeks later, as a delay procedure, femoral vessels were ligated at the distal end of the
Silastic sheets and the four margins of the sheets were divided except for the vascular pedicle. This
capsule flap was raised as a secondary
island flap connected only by its vascular pedicle, then it was sutured back in place. Ten days after the delay procedure, the upper
Silastic sheet was removed and a full-thickness skin graft was performed on the capsular
island flap. Animals were killed at 80 days. A total of 40 axial pattern capsulocutaneous flaps from 20 Sprague-Dawley rats were successfully achieved. Pathologic study revealed neovascularization, and abundantly impregnated vascular structures near the pedicle were observed with randomly developed
collagen fibers. The skin graft took 100 percent on this newly formed capsular flap; therefore, the
capsule structure was able to survive on its own and support skin grafts. This experiment, by using an isolated femoral artery and vein as the main pedicle, led to the formation of a
capsule flap through a normal
foreign body reaction between two
Silastic sheet implants. This new flap can be used as a reliable vascular carrier for various needs with minimal donor morbidity.