"Surgical technique: A novel pedicled periosteal scapular flap to facilitate bone growth in an Ovine model".

Abstract

Vascularised periosteum can used for reconstructing bony defects due to its intrinsic osteogenic properties. This osteogenic potential can be harnessed as a vascularised flap to induce bone growth of complex constructs in-vivo. The authors aimed to use a novel pedicled periosteal flap from the scapula to induce bone growth in a critical sized construct. Eight sheep were used as live animal models. A novel periosteal flap was raised from the infraspinous fossa of each animal and wrapped around non-vascularised autologous bone graft. The constructs were allowed to incubate between 1 and 84 days before harvest. Analysis of the flap was done via histopathology using haematoxylin and eosin staining. All flaps were viable at the conclusion of surgery. Seven flaps showed variable thickening with matrix deposition. One flap was devitalised at time of harvest. The novel periosteal scapular flap described is a promising technique to induce bone growth in complex constructs.