Effect of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells on the survival of skin flap in rats

The use of random flaps is one of the most common methods of reconstructive surgery because they are easy to use and quick to do. However, the absence of axial vessels especially in the distal areas can cause ischemia and loss of total or part of the flap. Different methods and systemic and topical medications have been recommended to prevent ischemia in random flaps. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood in random flap survival in rats.
This experimental study was conducted in Animal Laboratory of Hazrat Fatemeh Hospital in 2012. In this study twenty Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing approximately 300 to 350 g were selected and divided randomly into two groups. In both groups after anesthesia, a flap was created in the posterior part of each rat with a size of 2 x 6 cm. In the intervention group we injected stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood into the flap, and after eight days the effects on the survival of flaps were examined by digital photography and then pathological examination was performed.
The mean of viable flap in the stem cell group was 6.57 cm2 and in control group 4.71 cm2. The minimum and maximum flap survival in the intervention group were 4.71 and 8.75, and the minimum and maximum flap survived in control group were 1.86 and 7.77. This difference was significant and showed that the viable parts of flap were more in the intervention group (P=0.49). In pathologic examinations epidermal and muscle necrosis of the skin were reported in 3 cases in the intervention group and 5 cases in control group.
This study showed that cord blood stem cells can be effective somehow in reducing ischemia and increasing random flap survival. However, similar studies are recommended in order to compare the results of this drug and placebo or other proven effective drugs.