BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to develop an experimental model for degloving injuries of the hind limbs of rats and observe flap viability after its relocation to the wound bed to better study the changes related to the injury and to test the therapeutic modalities in avulsed flaps. METHODS: Ninety male Wistar rats were divided into 4 experimental groups. A flap avulsion model on the lower limb of a rats was established, using 4 different pedicles: proximal flow pedicled flap (G1), distal flow pedicled flap (G2), lateral flow pedicled flap (G3), and medial flow pedicled flap (G4). RESULTS: Comparison between the mean necrotic area of the degloved flap showed statistically significant differences among the 4 groups (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The group with the distal flow pedicled flap (G2) showed a higher necrotic area relative to the total flap area and it is the most suitable group for testing therapeutic agents in avulsed flaps.
Wounds and injuries; Lower extremity; Skin; Necrosis; Animal models
