Superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator flap aided by color Doppler sonography mapping for like-with-like buccal reconstruction
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 19, 2026

An Experimental Human DIEP Flap Model to Investigate Preservation Strategies for Vascularized Composite Allografts and Free Flaps
Published on: December 5, 2025
Shufang Jin1, Yue He1, Zhuowei Tian1
1Department of Oromaxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, Faculty of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China.
Objective:
To assess an alternative method for buccal reconstruction using a superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator flap (SCIP) with preoperative color Doppler sonography mapping.
Study Design:
From January 2014 to June 2014, we enrolled six patients with buccal defects that occurred following cancer resection. Surgical procedures, superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator flap anatomy, and the outcomes are described.
Results:
The flap sizes measured 30 to 63 cm(2). The mean diameter of the superficial circumflex iliac artery was 0.6 mm and of the vein was 1.1 mm. The mean arterial pedicle length was 6.9 cm, and the venous pedicle length was 7.3 cm. The mean reduction of mouth-open width was 0.4 cm. No flap failure was evident, and a good aesthetic outcome was obtained in all cases.
Conclusions:
The SCIP flap is a reliable and pliable flap with long vascular pedicles, hidden donor site morbidity, and perfect texture match for buccal defect reconstruction.

