Microsurgical training with chicken wings: Could it be an option to increase experience for vascularized bone flaps?

[OBJECTIVE] To our knowledge, a vascularized bone flap training model has not been described in the literature. In this study, we hypothesized that chicken wing radius bone can be used as a cheap, realistic and easily accessible vascularized pedicled bone flap training model.

[METHODS] A final total of 10 specimens were included in the study. All procedures were planned and conducted by the same surgeon. In all 10 specimens, the length of the radius bone and the length of the vascularized bone flap were measured with a standard ruler. The external diameters of the ulnar artery and the radial artery forming the flap pedicle were measured.

[RESULTS] Flap harvesting time (40.4 ± 7.98') was measured as the time between proper positioning of the chicken wing and the complete separation of the flap from the wing. Mean radius bone length was 6.09 ± 0.72 cm, bone flap length (3.92 ± 0.36 cm) was measured as the distance between two osteotomies in the maximum length of bone (proximal and distal) according to the preparation of the radial artery pedicle. Mean radial artery pedicle external diameter was 0.51 ± 0.05 mm, while mean ulnar artery pedicle external diameter was 0.6 ± 0.04 mm. On average, 4.3 ± 0.82 perforators of the radial artery (to the other regions of the flap) were ligated.

[CONCLUSION] We think that this model can be a pioneer in defining the bone flap model in living animals in future studies. Since this inanimate animal model is a cost-effective and easily accessible technique, it offers the opportunity to be applied easily and repeatedly, even in the comfort of surgeons' homes.