Effect of muscle flap coverage on bone blood flow following devascularization of a segment of tibia: An experimental investigation in the dog

Abstract

Severe tibial fractures may be associated with soft tissue loss, devascularization of cortical bone, and significant morbidity. Local rotational muscle flap coverage is used to obtain coverage of acute open tibial fractures and to treat chronic osteomyelitis of the tibia. The purpose of this study was to determine (a) the longitudinal and cross-sectional regional blood flow characteristics of the canine tibia and (b) whether a muscle flap was superior to vascularized skin coverage in restoring blood flow to devascularized canine tibial cortex. A 2.5-cm segment of tibia between two standardized osteotomies was devascularized. The segment was replaced anatomically and stabilized with a plate. The animals were divided into two experimental group: (a) skin coverage (n = 8), and (b) muscle flap coverage (n = 8). Thirty-one days postoperatively Ce¹⁴¹ microspheres were injected to measure bone blood flow. The tibial diaphysis was divided into proximal, middle (devascularized), and distal segments. The unoperated leg was used as a control. In the control tibiae, the middle segment was less vascular than either the proximal or distal segment and no difference between anterior and posterior cortical blood flow was observed. Blood flow to the devascularized segment of tibia was significantly greater when it was covered with a muscle flap (p < 0.025). The most significant increase in bone blood flow in the muscle flap coverage group versus the skin coverage group occurred in the anterior cortex of the tibia (p < 0.005). This may be clinically important since the soft tissues over the anterior tibia are commonly deficient following open fractures. The rate of osteotomy union was increased in the experimental group with muscle flap coverage (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that muscle flap coverage enhances the restoration of blood flow to devascularized tibial cortex.