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Free flap reconstruction is discussed with emphasis on microsurgical technique utilized in union of blood vessels 1 mm in external diameter. Proper microsurgical instrumentation, magnification and small vessel suture technique are all of importance in achieving a successful microvascu-lar anastomosis. Technical maneuvers employed in identifying and avoiding small vessel thrombosis are presented. Surgical techniques, as presented here, have allowed us to successfully use free flaps to reconstruct large oral cavity defects following ablative cancer operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the interest of developing an animal model for keloids, human keloid dermis was implanted in the subcutaneous tissues of athymic (nude) mice. Subsequent growth resulted in a lesion with histology similar to the original keloid. Fibroblasts were cultured from keloid dermis. When the fibroblasts alone were implanted in the subcutaneous tissues of nude mice, growth of a visible lesion was again produced. The fibroblasts had proliferated and deposited collagen in an abnormal fashion with the histology resembling the parent keloid. Further research could develop this into a reliable animal model to allow in vivo experimentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]