Use of recovery-enhanced thermography to localize cutaneous perforators.

Use of recovery-enhanced thermography to localize cutaneous perforators.
Itoh Y, Arai K. Source Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Japan.
Abstract
Recovery-enhanced thermography implies the scanning, after cooling, of the skin surface with ice water for several seconds. Using this method, cutaneous perforators were clearly identified in constant distributions on the trunks of 12 healthy volunteers. Clinically, preoperative recovery-enhanced thermography is useful for the design of perforator-based flaps. We describe this method in detail and demonstrate its reliability with successful clinical cases.