Blood supply to the platysma muscle flap: an anatomic study with clinical correlation.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the blood supply of the superiorly based and posteriorly based platysma muscle myocutaneous flap.


METHODS
Four fresh cadaver specimens were injected with Microfil (Flow Technologies, Inc, Carver, ME) red stain in the common carotid artery and blue stain in the brachiocephalic vein. To clarify the blood supply to the platysma muscle, the blood vessels were first identified on lateral and posteroanterior radiographs of the specimens. Subsequently, anatomic dissection of the arteries and veins associated with the platysma muscle and overlying skin was performed.


RESULTS
The submental artery was the primary vessel to the platysma muscle. The superior thyroid artery, occipital artery, and posterior auricular artery were identified as secondary vessels. The external jugular vein provided the primary venous drainage, followed by the submental vein.


CONCLUSIONS
The superiorly based design has a reliable arterial blood supply (facial and submental arteries) and poor venous drainage. The posteriorly based design has a reliable venous drainage (external jugular vein), but the arterial blood supply is almost random (occipital artery).
Uehara
M
M
Section of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Helman
J I
JI
Lillie
J H
JH
Brooks
S L
SL
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002680:Chin / Q000098:blood supply; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000098:blood supply*; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*