The free serratus anterior flap and its cutaneous component for reconstruction of the face: a series of 27 cases.
BACKGROUND
The serratus anterior flap is commonly used without its cutaneous component and is covered with a skin graft. The authors have successfully used the free serratus anterior flap along with its skin paddle and have found it to be valuable for reconstruction of the face.


METHODS
Fresh cadaveric dissections and arteriography were performed to identify perforator vessels to the skin overlying the muscle. Clinically, free transfer of the musculocutaneous flap to the face was carried out in 27 patients, mostly for severe noma (infection) sequelae.


RESULTS
Anatomical dissection and arteriography revealed no cutaneous perforator vessels directly communicating with the vascular pedicle of the muscle. However, large perforators from the intercostal vessels were found passing through the muscle to reach the skin. In the clinical cases, flap survival was 100 percent in 24 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The serratus anterior musculocutaneous flap is reliable and particularly well-suited for reconstruction of the face, and has many advantages. The authors speculate that the skin paddle may be vascularized by perforators from the intercostal vessels communicating with the thoracodorsal pedicle through intramuscular choke vessels.
Pittet
Brigitte
B
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Geneva Medical Center, Geneva, Switzerland. brigitte.pittet-cuenod@hcuge.ch
Mahajan
Ajay Liladhar
AL
Alizadeh
Navid
N
Schlaudraff
Kai-Uwe
KU
Fasel
Jean
J
Montandon
Denys
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009625:Noma / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting