[Anatomic study of supratrochlear artery and its application in nasal reconstruction].
OBJECTIVE
To study the anatomy of the cutaneous branch (CB) of supratrochlear artery and its relevance to the design of frontal flap in nasal reconstruction.


METHODS
10 fresh cadavers were dissected to study the position and course of the CB of supratrochlear artery (supraorbital rim and facial midline as landmark). The communication between the CB and supraorbital artery was also studied. 5 cases of ultra-thin frontal flaps and 11 cases of bi-flap( cutaneous flap and muscular flap) were designed on anatomic basis. The survival rate of flap, the stability and aesthetic appearance of the reconstructed nose were followed up.


RESULTS
The supratrochlear artery gave off constant CB (1.18 +/- 0.36) cm from upper orbital rim and (1.35 +/- 0.34) cm from the midline of face. The CB passed in a subcutaneous plane and communicated with the bilateral muscular branch, CB of the opposite side and bilateral supraorbital artery. The supratrochlear artery only had CB with no muscular branch in 3 cases. All the flaps survived completely except one with blister on the nose tip which healed spontaneously. The postoperative aesthetic appearance was very satisfactory.


CONCLUSIONS
The supratrochlear artery has constant CB. The frontal ultra-thin flap pedicled with the CB can improve the therapeutic effect of nasal reconstruction.
Wang
Hui-yong
HY
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200011, China.
Li
Qing-feng
QF
Gu
Bin
B
Shen
Guo-xiong
GX
Zheng
Sheng-wu
SW
Tang
Lu-jia
LJ
Liu
Qin-xiu
QX
Li
Yu-ping
YP
Zhang
Di-sheng
DS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009666:Nose / Q000601:surgery; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014321:Trochlear Nerve / Q000098:blood supply; D055815:Young Adult