Experimental study of the effectiveness of cutting out a skin-fat flap under the control of luminescent spectroscopy

Introduction. Currently, improvement of skin flap cutting techniques is relevant in various fields of surgery.

Aim. To evaluate the effectiveness of cutting out a skin flap under the control of luminescent spectroscopy in an experiment.

Materials and methods. A prospective, non-randomized, direct study was conducted on 17 mongrel rabbits at the experimental vivarium of Kabardino-Balkarian University from March to April 2025. The first step was to separate the skin on the abdomen with a length of 12 cm. After its exposure, a total biopsy was performed, histological preparations with further morphometry were made. The obtained values were compared with the luminescence intensity. In the second stage, 14 mongrel rabbits were operated on, divided into equal groups. In the 1^st group, after peeling off the flap, it was fixed to its original place without shortening, in the 2^nd group, the cut flap was shortened under luminescent control. The duration of the experiment was 21 days. The clinical and laboratory dynamics, the number and area of purulent complications were evaluated. The SPSS 17.0 software was used for statistical data processing.

Results. With a signal amplitude of 0.95 ± 0.15 × 10⁵ photons, the micro-preparations showed a minimal area of necrosis. In the control group, wound suppuration was noted in 5 animals (area – 4.35 ± 0.11 cm²), in 2 animals from the experimental group (area – 1.34 ± 0.14 cm², p = 0.005). Necrosis of the skin flap was not observed in the experimental group. A biopsy of the wound with morphometry of histological preparations on day 21 revealed a more intensive development of connective tissue in the experimental group and a greater severity of local inflammation in the control group. After withdrawal from the experiment, signs of acute sepsis were detected in the control group in the section of animals.

Conclusions. The use of ultraviolet luminescent spectroscopy is effective in determining the boundaries of the cutout of the skin-fat flap in rabbits.

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