MECHANICAL STIMULATION IMPROVES SURVIVAL in RANDOM-PATTERN SKIN FLAPS in RATS

This was a study on the effects of 3-MHz ultrasound at 16- and 100-Hz pulse repetition frequencies on angiogenesis and viability of random-pattern skin flaps in rats. A cranially-based dorsal skin flap was raised in 60 EPM-Wistar rats, which were randomly divided into four groups: control, sham, 16-Hz and 100-Hz groups. the mean percentage of necrosis was as follows: control, 42% +/- 13%; sham, 18% +/- 13%; 16-Hz group, 13% +/- 10%; and 100-Hz group, 15% +/- 7%, with significant differences between the control and the other groups (p < 0.001). the mean vascular density was as follows: control, 5% +/- 2%; sham, 7% +/- 2%; 16-Hz group, 21% +/- 4%; and 100-Hz group, 24% +/- 10%, with significant differences between control and ultrasound groups, and between the sham and ultrasound groups (p < 0.001). Both ultrasound treatments (16- and 100-Hz PRFs) induced angiogenesis, and sham and ultrasound treatments improved viability of random-pattern skin flaps in rats. (E-mails: pascale.tacani@hotmail.com; sandra.dcir@epm.br) (C) 2010 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Plast Surg, Sch Med, EPM,Grad Program, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Surg, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilUniv City São Paulo UNICID, Phys Therapy Dept, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Phys Therapy Dept, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Pathol, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Plast Surg, Sch Med, EPM,Grad Program, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Surg, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Phys Therapy Dept, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Pathol, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc