Platysma-based myocutaneous clavicular island flap for intraoral reconstruction

The clavicular myocutaneous island flap, with circulation provided by the platysma and superficial cervical fascia, was first performed by Paul Tessier in 1970, taking his motivation from the prior experience of John Barron with subcutaneous island flaps. A manuscript written by Dr. Tessier on his experience of 120 cases using the flap (which we will refer to as the BT, or Barron-Tessier flap) has been translated and is presented, as well the experiences of Matthews and Wolfe, who learned the procedure from Dr. Tessier, and Kamerer, an ENT/Head and Neck surgeon who learned the procedure from Matthews. In aggregate, we will present our joint experience with 443 cases of the BT flap. Because of its ease and speed of harvest, reliability, and provision of thin, pliable skin, we feel that, in many instances, it is equivalent, or even superior to microsurgical free flap for reconstruction of intraoral lining defects.