title: One-stage reconstruction for defects of the mouth using a sternomastoid myocutaneous flap.
abstract: The sternomastoid muscle has 3 blood supplies: the occipital artery superiorly, the superior thyroid artery in the middle, and the thyrocervical trunk below. We report the use of a myocutaneous flap consisting of a "paddle" of skin on the end of a pedicle of sternomastoid muscle--with the latter based either on its superior or inferior blood supply. Fourteen such flaps have been used successfully in 13 consecutive patients for one-stage reconstructions of defects of the oral cavity and oropharynx. Although there was partial epithelial loss of the skin "paddle" in 7 cases, in each case the surviving dermis became resurfaced with epithelium.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002342:Carotid Artery, External / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D009132:Muscles / Q000098:blood supply / Q000637:transplantation*; D009333:Neck / Q000098:blood supply; D011859:Radiography; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous