Microsurgical revascularization of ischemic rat femoral heads.

To demonstrate whether revascularization could be surgically induced in avascular bone the femoral heads of female albino rats were excised and drilled through and through. The femoral heads were then placed in the opposite thigh and by use of microvascular techniques the femoral artery was divided and lengthened with a 1 cm artery or vein graft, and reanastomosed after passing one end through the drilled hole in the transplanted femoral head. Arterial blood flowed through the graft within the drilled femoral head on its way to its normal distribution down the leg. Technetium 99m MDP methylene diphosphate, tetracycline labeling, latex injection, and histologic review were used to demonstrate new vessel growth. All grafts patent at the end of the experiment were associated with tetracycline labeling, positive technetium 99m methylene diphosphate counts and latex-filled vessels in the matrix of the femoral heads. Histologically the vascularized femoral heads showed evidence of neovascularization and new bone formation.