The Functional Vascular Anatomy of Rib

The adequacy of nutrient blood supply to ribs based on the intercostal-periosteal system versus the medullary nutrient artery was investigated in six dogs containing ribs of each type. Free grafts with periosteum and without periosteum were also included. Vascularity was monitored by bone scanning and tetracycline double labeling. A preliminary study with RES scanning using sulfur colloid was also preformed. The results of this study showed (1) that no demonstrable difference in blood supply exists between rib supplied by the anterior intercostal-periosteal system versus the nutrient artery (this was seen with bone scans, tetracycline double labels, and RES scans); (2) that bone scans can differentiate between vascularized rib grafts and free rib grafts for at least the first 7 days (after 7 days, some free grafts begin to take up label); and (3) that by using bone scan, no difference in the rate of revascularization is detected between free grafts with the periosteum stripped or the periosteum intact (RES scans and tetracycline labeling were not given late enough after surgery to be incorporated in either type of nonvascularized graft).