Multifarious uses of the pedicled SCIP flap - a case series

Groin flaps have been used as pedicled and free flaps by plastic surgeons for time immemorial. The superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator (SCIP) flap has evolved from the groin flap in which the entire skin territory of the groin flap can be harvested based on the perforators of the superficial circumflex iliac artery (SCIA) and only a part of the SCIA can be taken along with. The pedicled SCIP flap can also be utilized in a large number of cases which is described in our article.

Between January 2022 to July 2022, 15 patients were operated on using the pedicled SCIP flap. Twelve patients were males and 3 patients were females. Nine patients presented with a defect in the hand/forearm, 2 patients had a defect in the scrotum, 2 patients had a defect in the penis, 1 patient had a defect in the inguinal region overlying the femoral vessels and 1 patient had a defect in the lower abdomen.

There was a partial loss of one flap and a complete loss of one flap from pedicle compression. The donor site healed well in all cases with no evidence of wound disruption or seroma or hematoma formation. As all the flaps were quite thin, no debulking was needed as an additional procedure.

The dependability of the pedicled SCIP flap implies that this flap should be used more often in reconstructions in and around the genital area and also in cases of upper limb coverage instead of the classical groin flap.