Supraclavicular artery flap for head and neck oncologic reconstruction: an emerging alternative.
OBJECTIVE
Head and Neck oncologic resections often leave complex defects which are challenging to reconstruct. The need of the hour is a versatile flap which has the advantages of both a regional flap (viz. reliable and easy to harvest) and a free flap (thin, pliable with good colour match). In this a study we assessed the usefulness of the supraclavicular artery flap in head and neck oncologic defects.


METHODS
The flap was used as a pedicled fasciocutanous and was based on the transverse supraclavicular artery. We assessed this reconstructive option for complications as well as its and functional out comes.


RESULTS
Eleven cases underwent supraclavicular artery flap between 20011-2012 of which 5 were males and 6 females. Mean defect size was 5 cm × 6 cm. Nine donor sites were closed primarily and 1 required split skin grafting. We encountered one complete flap loss which was attributed to a band of constricting skin bridge over the vascular pedicle in a defect involving lateral third of midface. Two patient developed pharyngeocutaneous fistula (without flap loss) out of 3 patients who underwent augmentation pharyngoplasty post Near total laryngectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
Supra clavicular artery flap is a thin versatile, reliable, easy to harvest, with good cosmetic and functional outcome at both ends (recipient and donor) for reconstructing head and neck oncologic defects.
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore, Karnataka 560029, India.
Ashok
A
Shenoy
Department of Surgical Oncology, HCG Hospital, Bangalore 560027, India.
Vijayraj S
VS
Patil
Department of Surgical Oncology, HCG Hospital, Bangalore 560027, India.
B S
BS
Prithvi
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore, Karnataka 560029, India.
P
P
Chavan
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore, Karnataka 560029, India.
Rajshekar
R
Halkud
D000328:Adult; D002968:Clavicle / Q000098:blood supply; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D006257:Head / Q000601:surgery*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome