Circumflex scapular artery myocutaneous and/or vascularized scapular chimeric flap

Chimeric osteomyocutaneous flaps harvested from the subscapular artery system have been used in clinical practice. We describe the use of a novel circumflex scapular artery myocutaneous and/or vascularized scapular chimeric flap in a rat model and demonstrate optimal skin flap dimensions.

An 8 × 4-cm-rectangular skin flap based on the circumflex scapular artery flap was harvested, and the mean percentage of the surviving flap area and the necrotic area were calculated to be 71% ± 17.9% and 29% ± 17.9%, respectively. Using flap dimensions determined in the first part of our study, a 4 × 3-cm quadrangular portion of skin was marked over the scapula, and the serratus anterior muscle and a portion of the scapular bone were included in our chimeric flap model.

The mean percentages of the surviving flap and necrotic areas were 74% ± 6% and 25% ± 6%, respectively. Microangiographic and histologic studies revealed the vascularity of the skin island and identified the branches of the circumflex scapular artery that supplied the bone and muscle.

The circumflex scapular artery myocutaneous and/or vascularized partial scapular chimeric flap may be considered a branch-based chimeric flap and can be an acceptable flap model due to its simplicity, reliability, and consistent vascularity. Furthermore, this flap may have potential applications in studying chimeric flap hemodynamics.