Groin Cutaneous Free Tissue Flap in the Rat

Microsurgical free flap surgery involves intricate procedures where different tissues and the blood vessels that perfuse them are carefully detached from their original location and meticulously reattached to the recipient site using microsurgical techniques. Microsurgery allows for patent revascularization of the transplanted flaps via anastomoses to the local vessels. The improved visualization and precision by the use of microscopes and specific instruments has revolutionized reconstructive surgery. Microsurgical free flaps are often indicated for various reconstructive procedures in a diverse range of clinical scenarios including: complex trauma or burn injuries, hand injuries or congenital deformities, after excision of tumors, and for breast, maxillofacial, lower extremity, head and neck reconstructions among others. This chapter describes how a free tissue flap transfer should be performed step-by-step using the free groin cutaneous flap model in the rat.