Reconstruction of complex shoulder defect in a case of subclavian artery thrombosis

We report a case of a 24-year-old man with complex shoulder defect on the right side following a road traffic accident. The patient was found to have a subclavian artery thrombosis in its second part with good collaterals ensuring limb viability. Free-flap reconstruction was not possible because of lack of recipient vascular pedicle nearby. Pedicled flaps routinely used for this area such as pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps could not be used as their vascular pedicles arise from the second and third parts of the axillary artery distal to the subclavian artery thrombosis. The best option we could think was the trapezius myocutaneous flap as its vascular pedicle arises from the first part of the subclavian artery proximal to the thrombosis. This article further establishes the importance of knowing the vascular supply of flaps before their clinical application. In this case the trapezius flap acts as a lifeboat for coverage of the complex shoulder defect as its vascular supply is proximal to the site of subclavian artery thrombosis.