The sternocleidomastoid myocutaneous flap

Area of Science:

• Anatomy
• Surgical Reconstruction
• Head and Neck Surgery

Background:

• The sternocleidomastoid muscle is crucial for neck movement.
• Reconstruction of oral cavity and oropharyngeal defects often requires complex surgical techniques.
• Previous methods may necessitate separate procedures or skin grafting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel compound flap using the sternocleidomastoid muscle for head and neck reconstruction.
• To evaluate the efficacy of this flap in single-stage oral and oropharyngeal defect repair.

Main Methods:

• A compound flap was designed using segments of neck skin and a pedicle of sternocleidomastoid muscle.
• The flap was utilized for reconstruction of defects in the oral cavity or oropharynx.
• The blood supply of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (occipital artery, superior thyroid artery, thyrocervical trunk) was considered in flap design.

Main Results:

• The sternocleidomastoid compound flap successfully reconstructed defects in the oral cavity and oropharynx.
• The technique allowed for one-stage reconstruction concurrent with primary tumor resection.
• This method eliminated the requirement for skin grafts at the flap's donor site.

Conclusions:

• The sternocleidomastoid compound flap is an effective method for single-stage reconstruction of oral and oropharyngeal defects.
• This innovative approach simplifies the reconstructive process and improves donor site healing.
• The flap offers a viable alternative to traditional reconstructive techniques in head and neck surgery.