OBJECTIVETo develop a new experimental animal model of different a single perforating vessel as its pedicle, and to investigate this vessel can captures how many adjacent angiosomes in different directions.

METHODSThirty-six Sprague-Dawly rats of both sexes were used. The rats were divided into group A, group B and group C. Group A: the unilateral deep circumflex iliac perforator artery- based flap. Group B: the unilateral posterior intercostal perforator artery-based flap. Group C: the unilateral lateral thoracic perforator artery-based flap. An extended dorsal perforator flap measuring up to 13 cm x 6 cm was designed in 36 rats to assess the viability of the flap. The upper margin was located at the level of the tip of the scapula and the lower margin at a level 1 cm below the iliac crest. All flaps were observed for 7 days postoperatively, 72 hours after flap elevation, observe flap dyeing conditions through the vivo fluorescein injection, the surviving flap area was calculated as a percentage of total flap dimensions and the angiosome's structure of the flap was displayed by radiopaque microangiography.

RESULTSNo fluorescence was visible in the distal flap of groups A and C, the whole flap show bright fluorescence in group B. Survival rate of C, A, B were improved in order. Statistic difference is significant (P < 0.01) between group and group. In group A, lead oxide-gelatin angiography shows the cephalic flap necrosis occurred in the bilateral lateral thoracic territories, and the vascular architecture partly disappeared in the necrotic area. In group B, the vascular architecture of flap is unbroken. In group C, the caudal flap necrosis occurred in the bilateral deep circumflex iliac perforator artery territories, and the vascular architecture partly disappeared and disordered in the necrotic area.

CONCLUSIONSThe perforator flap is based centrally on a single perforator, this vessel can capture multiple the second vascular territory. In a direction, the longest distance that the blood supply can reach is the point of the third perforator vessel puncture into skin, which can provide certain theoretical guidance for designing of perforator flap.