The effect of bovine basic fibroblast growth factor on skin flap survival in rats.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was prepared from bovine pituitary glands and evaluated for its effect on the viability of pedicle skin flaps in rats. Pedicle flaps measuring 3 x 7.5 cm and based cephalad were created on the backs of animals. The treatment group received bFGF in saline solution intradermally by Dermo-jet injection 30 minutes before flap elevation. Skin flaps treated with a single application of 80 U of bFGF demonstrated a significant increase in viability from 40.8% to 69.7% of the flap area (p less than 0.001); the flaps treated with 16 U of bFGF exhibited little improvement. Intradermal administration of bFGF to pedicle skin flaps produced an increase in viability that approximates the increase obtained by a surgical delay procedure; treatment of flaps with exogenous bFGF may offer advantages over surgical delay procedures.