Article
Thermoregulatory response of different free flap types due to neural reinnervation
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Published: | September 27, 2011 |
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Introduction: Skin blood flow in humans can increase substantially in response to thermal stress, which represents a vital aspect of normal thermoregulation. In intact tissue, the sympathetic nervous system provides one of the fundamental mechanisms for the control of skin blood flow and pressure. The present study examined the thermoregulatory ability as a sign of neural re-innervation of two different types of microsurgical free flaps in the postoperative course.
Material and methods: A total of 22 patients were examined after grafting two different flap types: The latissimus dorsi flap (n=11) and the anterolateral thigh flap (n=11). Patients were examined 6 and 9 months postoperatively. After exposure to cold and warm water (10°C and 35°C ) multiple measurements were carried out with the focus on blood velocity and flow using the “O2C” device.
Results: Both examined flaps showed a tendency for improvement in local blood flow and velocity due to thermal stress. We recorded a more physiological thermoregulation during thermal stress for the myocutaneous latissimus flap when compared to the ALT flap over a measurement period of time.
Conclusion: We believe that the presence of the muscle portion in the latissimus dorsi flap may offer better conditions for thermoregulation based on the improvement of neural and vascular regeneration.