[Double vascular pedicle iliac crest flap].
BACKGROUND
The iliac crest flap is commonly used in reconstructions of the head and neck. The vascularisation of this region depends on the deep circumflex iliac artery and vein (ACIP/VCIP). The present study describes for the first time, the simultaneous use of the deep and superficial circumflex iliac systems to obtain an iliac crest flap for head and neck reconstructions.


METHODS
Ten inguinal regions were dissected in five cadavers in the Human Anatomy and Embryology Unit of the Faculty of Medicine of the Rovira i Virgili University. In the period 2005-2007, three patients required mandibular reconstruction with a microvascularised iliac crest osteocutaneous flap at the Maxillofacial Surgery Unit of the Joan XXIII University Hospital.


RESULTS
The 3 cases showed a favourable outcome. This "supercharging" variation guarantees the perfusion to the skin flap, provides a better three-dimensional arrangement of the soft tissue and lowers the morbidity at the donor site, as much less internal oblique muscle cuff is harvested.


CONCLUSIONS
This technique may be of great interest in the reconstruction of complex maxillofacial defects instead of having to carry out a vascular dissection and its extra anastomosis.
Rodríguez Fernández
Javier
J
Servicio de Cirugía Maxilofacial, Hospital Universitario Joan XXIII, Tarragona, España. javier.doctork@gmail.com
Mateos Micas
Mario
M
Galán
Ramón
R
Cobos
Pedro
P
Jové
Montserrat
M
Jové
Margarita
M
Aguilera
Laura
L
Vázquez
Olga
O
Mommsen
Jens
J
Forteza
Gabriel
G
Piera
Verónica
V
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007085:Ilium / Q000637:transplantation*; D008297:Male; D008338:Mandibular Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013524:Surgical Flaps