The Fasciocutaneous Supraclavicular Artery Island Flap for Releasing Postburn Mentosternal Contractures

1997/06/01 by Norbert Pallua, Hans‐Guenther Machens, Hans-Guenther Machens +5 · 23 citations
Medicine · #Artery #Cosmesis #Medicine #Muscle contracture #Nerve Injury and Rehabilitation #Plastic surgery #Reconstructive Facial Surgery Techniques #Reconstructive Surgery and Microvascular Techniques #Scars #Surgery

paper · doi:10.1097/00006534-199706000-00011

openalex publication_date 1997/06/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30

Abstract

Mentosternal contractures represent a surgical challenge to the plastic and reconstructive surgeon. We add the supraclavicular artery island flap to the armamentarium of surgical procedures to improve the function and cosmesis of disfigured patients. Since July of 1994, the supraclavicular artery island flap has been used at our institution for releasing postburn mentosternal contractures in eight patients. The flap was planned to be 4 to 10 cm in width and 20 to 30 cm in length with the supraclavicular vessels running axially. All donor defects could be closed primarily without significant postoperative complications in seven of the eight patients. All flaps healed primarily, achieving a good functional result by complete removal of contracting scar tissue for all patients; one donor site healed by secondary intention. We found the supraclavicular artery island flap both reliable and safe for immediate resurfacing after resection of cervical scars. The anatomy, operative procedure, and postoperative results of the supraclavicular artery island flap are outlined in this paper.

Cited by

• [Research progress of pedicled flaps for defect repair and reconstruction after head and neck tumor resection]. [europepmc]
• The supraclavicular artery island flap (SCAIF) in head and neck reconstruction: an Italian multi-institutional experience. [europepmc]
• Interest of Thin Skin Flaps in the Treatment of Postburn Cervical Contractures: About Five Cases. [europepmc]
• Indocyanine green fluorescence videoangiography for reliable variations of supraclavicular artery flaps. [europepmc]
• Pedicled Supraclavicular Flap for Neck Defect Reconstruction in Poland Syndrome. [europepmc]
• Supraclavicular Artery Island Flap in Head and Neck Reconstruction: A Case Series and Literature Review. [europepmc]
• Pre-expanded bipedicled visor flap: an ideal option for the reconstruction of upper and lower lip defects postburn in Asian males. [europepmc]
• Application of bilateral supraclavicular artery island flaps in the repair of hypopharyngeal and cervical skin defects: a case report. [europepmc]
• Post-burn neck contracture: effectively managed with supraclavicular artery flap. [europepmc]
• Versatility of the Supraclavicular Flap in Head and Neck Reconstruction. [europepmc]
• Prelaminated Supraclavicular Island Flap for Total Ear Reconstruction: A New Technique. [europepmc]
• Supraclavicular Flap for Large Anterior Chest Wall Defects-A Road Less Travelled. [europepmc]
• Use of the supraclavicular artery island flap for reconstruction of maxillofacial defects: a case report and literature review. [europepmc]
• Free Vascularized Supraclavicular Autologous Heterotopic Lymph Node Transfers Without Skin Paddle for Lymphedema Lower Limb. [europepmc]
• The Supraclavicular Artery Island Flap for Pharynx Reconstruction. [europepmc]
• The transverse cervical artery cervical cutaneous branch flap: An anatomy-based nomenclature. [europepmc]
• The use of a Rescue flap After Initial flap loss in Salvage Laryngectomy: Feasibility and Outcome. [europepmc]
• [Repaired four cases of hypopharyngeal combined neck skin defects using a folded supraclavicular flap]. [europepmc]
• The Role of Supraclavicular Flap in Reconstruction Following Resection in Buccal Mucosa Carcinoma. [europepmc]
• The Versatility of the Supraclavicular Flap for Head and Neck Reconstruction. [europepmc]
• Application of pedicled supraclavicular flaps in hypopharyngectomy with preservation of laryngeal function. [europepmc]
• The P-D-T anatomical classification system for supraclavicular artery perforator flap: technical optimization and clinical validation in 78 head and neck reconstructions. [europepmc]
• The revival of the supraclavicular artery island flap (SCAIF) during the COVID-19 pandemic [europepmc]

Related

• Perforator Flaps: Evolution, Classification, and Applications
• Free Anterolateral Thigh Flaps for Reconstruction of Head and Neck Defects
• Direct and Indirect Perforator Flaps: The History and the Controversy
• TENDINOCUTANEOUS FREE FLAP TRANSFER TO COVER AN EXTENSIVE SKIN-TENDON DEFECT OF THE DORSUM OF THE HAND
• Avoiding back wound dehiscence in extended latissimus dorsi flap reconstruction