Extended supraclavicular fasciocutaneous island flap based on the transverse cervical artery for head and neck reconstruction after cancer ablation.
OBJECTIVE
This clinical study assessed a pedicled supraclavicular fasciocutaneous island flap (SFIF) based on the transverse cervical artery that was extended to include shoulder skin for reconstructing the head and neck.


METHODS
Pedicled SFIFs extended to include the shoulder skin based on the cutaneous feeder vessels and perforator vessels in the deep fascia of the transverse cervical artery were designed for 24 patients with defects of the head and neck after cancer ablation. Preoperative 3-dimensional computed tomographic angiography was performed in all patients. The patients consisted of 15 men and 9 women ranging in age from 24 to 73 years.


RESULTS
The primary lesions included squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, buccal mucosa, floor of the mouth, oropharynx, palate, and lower gingiva. Three-dimensional computed tomographic angiography showed that the transverse cervical artery arose from the thyrocervical trunk in 13 cases and from the subclavian artery in 11 cases. The diameter of the artery ranged from 0.15 to 0.24 cm. The size of flaps ranged from 4 × 8 cm to 6 × 12 cm, and the mean length of the vascular pedicle was approximately 18.5 cm. Of the flaps, 23 survived completely, for a success rate of 95.8%. Three patients underwent radiotherapy, and the follow-up period ranged from 3 to 12 months. One patient died of local tumor recurrence, and cervical recurrences developed in 3 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
An SFIF extended to include the shoulder skin based on the cutaneous feeder vessels and perforator vessels in the deep fascia of the transverse cervical artery is a useful, viable option for defects of the head and neck after cancer ablation.
Chen
Wei-Liang
WL
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. drchen@vip.163.com
Zhang
Da-ming
DM
Yang
Zhao-hui
ZH
Huang
Zhi-quan
ZQ
Wang
Jian-guang
JG
Zhang
Bin
B
Li
Jing-song
JS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D001158:Arteries; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D005205:Fascia / Q000098:blood supply / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000601:surgery; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D009333:Neck / Q000098:blood supply*; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012782:Shoulder / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult