The inferior trapezius musculocutaneous flap in head and neck reconstruction.
The trapezius musculocutaneous flap based on the descending branch of the transverse cervical vessels has been used to reconstruct a variety of large and complex defects in the head and neck region. Forty-three flaps were performed in 41 patients over a period of 26 months. Excellent reconstruction was achieved in 37 patients. Six total and nine partial flap failures were noted. There were 8 deaths during this time, 2 attributable directly to flap failure. Patient positioning during surgery and the tedious dissection are disadvantageous. The advantages of this flap are its thinness, long reach, and a posterior donor defect. These attributes are ideally suited for certain complex reconstructive endeavors in the head and neck.
Chandrasekhar
B
B
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010.
Terz
J J
JJ
Kokal
W A
WA
Beatty
J D
JD
Gottlieb
M E
ME
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014945:Wound Healing