Live Demonstration of Microcirculation in the Deep Fascia and Its Implication

Abstract

The rich vascular network in the deep fascia has been emphasized by various scientists, but the actual demonstration of live circulation in the deep fascia has not previously been witnessed. Encouraged by the sight of live circulation in the web membrane of toad hind limb, a successful attempt was made to demonstrate the live circulation in the vascular network of the deep fascia. Fascial extensions of inferiorly based fasciocutaneous flaps were dissected in five patients with distal leg and heel defects. The fascial extension in continuity with a proximal retrograde fasciocutaneous flap was mounted on a glass slide and examined under a microscope. The authors witnessed the live microcirculation and the movement of individual red blood corpuscles in vascular channels of the deep fascia. The authors also noticed that the deep fascia has two layers with circulations that are independent of one other. A video recording was made to document these important features.