title: Split temporalis muscle flap anatomy, vascularization and clinical applications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For more than a century, the temporalis muscle has been used for facial reconstructions. More recently, a split temporalis muscle flap elevated on the superficial temporal pedicle has been described, for which the resulting gain of length makes crossing of the midline possible, as well as reconstruction of substance losses exceeding the midline.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen fresh cadaveric dissections were performed to study the different techniques for splitting the temporalis muscle. Dissections with catheterization and injection of radio-opaque contrasting agent in the external carotid artery were then performed to specify the vascularization of the flap split on the superficial temporal pedicle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The duplication of the superficial temporal pedicle grants greater length compared to that of the deep pedicles, 57 mm versus 40 (p = 0.036). The middle temporal artery is capable of ensuring the vascularization, and therefore the viability, of the split flap. From these results, we spoke about the limitations of this study and we have inferred the main indications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillo-facial and Plastic Surgery, University Hospital of Caen, Caen, 14000, France. alexis.veyssiere@hotmail.fr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Veyssiere
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rod
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leprovost
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caillot
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Labbé
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gerdom
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lengelé
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Benateau
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002102:Cadaver; D003287:Contrast Media; D004210:Dissection; D005145:Face / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery / Q000637:transplantation*; D013703:Temporal Muscle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000637:transplantation*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media