Supraclavicular Artery Island Flap for Head and Neck Oncologic Reconstruction: 15-year Experience, Past, Present,...

Head and neck reconstruction poses unique challenges due to the complex structure of the region. Primary goals include soft-tissue coverage, adequate color and texture match, and minimal donor-site morbidity. Local and musculocutaneous regional flaps have largely been replaced with fasciocutaneous free flaps (FFF) over recent years. The supraclavicular artery island flap (SCAIF), a locoregional, fasciocutaneous, axially-based flap, has been shown to produce similar outcomes to FFF. We present our 15-year experience using the SCAIF for head and neck reconstruction, discuss its evolution, and provide case examples for its range of indications.

Retrospective chart review identified 128 patients who underwent reconstruction of the head and neck with the SCAIF between the years 2006-2021 at Tulane University Medical Center. Patient demographics, lengths of stay, operative times, surgical indications, and complications were recorded.

The cohort mean age was 66.9 years. Mean lengths of stay and follow-up times were 6.9 days and 9.1 months, respectively. The most common indications for SCAIF reconstruction were recurrent radiated neck disease (n=27, 21.1%), pharyngeal wall defects (n=23, 18.0%), and parotidectomy defects (n=21, 16.4%). Overall complication rate was 17.2%. Partial thickness flap loss (5.5%), contained pharyngeal leak (3.2%), and distal tip necrosis (2.4%) were the most common complications. No functional donor site morbidity was encountered.

The SCAIF is a versatile, fasciocutaneous, axially-based flap able to produce similar outcomes to FFF in the reconstruction of the head and neck region while reducing costs, lengths of stay, operative times, and donor site morbidity.