Published online Mar 26, 2016. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v8.i3.101
Peer-review started: September 22, 2015
First decision: November 27, 2015
Revised: December 23, 2015
Accepted: January 21, 2016
Article in press: January 22, 2016
Published online: March 26, 2016
Processing time: 184 Days and 10.8 Hours
The use of skin flaps in reconstructive surgery is the first-line surgical treatment for the reconstruction of skin defects and is essentially considered the starting point of plastic surgery. Despite their excellent usability, their application includes general surgical risks or possible complications, the primary and most common is necrosis of the flap. To improve flap survival, researchers have used different methods, including the use of adipose-derived stem cells, with significant positive results. In our research we will report the use of adipose-derived stem cells in pedicle skin flap survival based on current literature on various experimental models in animals.
Core tip: The use of skin flaps in reconstructive surgery is the first-line surgical treatment for the reconstruction of skin defects and is essentially considered the starting point of plastic surgery. Our work, summarizing the current literature, presents the role of adipose-derived stromal cells in pedicle skin flap survival in experimental animal models.