title: Pre-expanded Supraclavicular Artery Perforator Flap.
abstract: The supraclavicular artery perforator (SAP) flap is a versatile flap for the reconstruction of head and neck defects. Recently, the authors have modified the SAP flap by using an anterior branch of the transverse cervical artery. The anterior SAP flap allows the harvest of a tissue island in the deltopectoral fossa, which is even thinner, is more pliable, and shows a superior color match to the face and neck compared with the original SAP flap. Pre-expansion increases flap size considerably, enabling the coverage of extended defects without the need of microsurgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hand Surgery - Burn Center, University Hospital of the RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, Aachen 52074, Germany. Electronic address: npallua@ukaachen.de.
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pallua
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hand Surgery - Burn Center, University Hospital of the RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, Aachen 52074, Germany.
authors.forename: Bong-Sung
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries; D005145:Face / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D009333:Neck / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery; D061525:Perforator Flap / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D015626:Tissue Expansion / Q000379:methods
keywords: Head and neck reconstruction; Maxillofacial reconstruction; Perforator flap; Pre-expansion; Supraclavicular flap