title: Use of the supraclavicular artery island flap for reconstruction of cervicofacial defects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the supraclavicular artery island (SAI) flap as an alternative flap for reconstruction of cervicofacial defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series with chart review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic, tertiary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two patients with defects of the face, temporal bone, and neck were reconstructed with an SAI flap. Each defect was deemed unsuitable for primary or local flap closure and would require regional or free tissue transfer. Outcome measures included size and location of the defect, time to raise the flap, flap size and viability, and complications. Mean follow-up was 7.4 months (range, 1-31 months). Statistical analysis was performed using SAS 9.1 (SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Defects of the cervical skin (n = 10), face (n = 8), and temporal bone (n = 4) were reconstructed. Mean flap dimensions were 6.1 cm (range, 5-7 cm) wide and 21.8 cm (range, 16-28 cm) long. The proximal portion of the flap was deepithelialized to match the defect, resulting in a mean skin paddle length of 9.6 cm (range, 5-18 cm). Minor donor site dehiscence occurred in 3 patients. Partial skin flap necrosis occurred in 2 patients, while 1 patient had complete loss of the skin paddle. There was no statistical correlation between flap necrosis and flap length (P = .3, χ(2)) or defect location (P = .13, χ(2)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SAI flap is a viable alternative to cervicofacial advancement or microvascular reconstruction of cervicofacial defects in select cases. This flap is reliable, easy to harvest, and versatile, and it provides a good color match for cervicofacial defects.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors: Niels
authors: N
authors: Kokot
authors: Kashif
authors: K
authors: Mazhar
authors: Lindsay S
authors: LS
authors: Reder
authors: Grace L
authors: GL
authors: Peng
authors: Uttam K
authors: UK
authors: Sinha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D060053:Transplant Donor Site / Q000473:pathology
keywords: SAI flap; cervicofacial reconstruction; head and neck reconstruction; supraclavicular artery island flap