The Effect of Fat Grafting on Random Pattern Skin Flap Viability

The purpose of our study was to determine the effectiveness of fat grafting in the dorsal skin flap survival in a murine model. Twenty-four Wistar rats were divided equally in three groups. A modified version of the McFarlane flap was used. No operation was done on group I. In group II, 1 cc saline was injected to the ½ distal part of the flap subcutaneously. Fat graft was harvested from inguinal fat pad of each rat bilaterally during the first operation and 1cc fat graft was injected into the distal half of the flap in group III. Ten days following first operation, the flaps were elevated and resutured into place with a silicone sheet. Seven days after flap elevation, the flaps were assessed for viability and harvested for histopathological analysis. The mean percentage of surviving skin flap area in the fat grafting group was significantly higher than that in the control and saline groups (44, 7975±13, 21955, 32, 1763±4, 34052, 23, 8200±8, 97927 and p=0,028 and p=0,001, respectively). The fat grafting group also showed significantly higher collagen density and vessel density scores than groups I and II. According to our findings, fat grafting may have a positive effect on increasing survival of random pattern skin flap probably due to the adipose-derived stem cells and stromal vascular fraction of adipose tissue.