A useful regional flap for head and neck reconstruction
Reviewed by Eduardo Morera Serna

This article explains the experience of the head and neck department of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary with a seldom used regional flap, the supraclavicular artery (SCA) fasciocutaneous flap. This versatile flap is based on the supraclavicular artery, a perforator branch of the transverse cervical artery or the suprascapular artery, with stable anatomical landmarks and a vascular territory extending from the supraclavicular area to the shoulder cap. The long pedicle of the flap allows the surgeon to use the flap to reconstruct defects as far as the lateral canthal region or the contralateral neck, but the main indication is the reconstruction of skin and soft tissues defects after total auriculectomy and total parotidectomy. Morbidity of the flap is low and the donor site can be primary closed; no sequelae is reported in this 24 patient series. Although not the first option for most reconstructions of head and neck defects, regional flaps such as the SCA flap are a good option for patients who are not good candidates for free vascularised flaps. The paper explains the surgical technique in full detail; the quality of the images is great. A great article for surgeons with reconstruction practice.

The supraclavicular artery flap for head and neck reconstruction.
Herr MW, Emmerick KS, Deschler DG.
JAMA FACIAL PLASTIC SURGERY
2014; Epub ahead of print.