[Changes in vascularization of sternocleidomastoid myocutaneous flaps]

Studies of variation in the vascularisation of the sternocleidomastoid myocutaneous flap. An investigation of vascularisation of the sternocleidomastoid myocutaneous flaps was conducted. The research was performed on human cadavers and after injection of arteries 40 myocutaneous flaps of sternocleidomastoid muscle were isolated. The experiment was performed to investigate the origin of the arteries vascularising the muscle and the area of skin, which were used to make the myocutaneous flaps. Changes are characteristic in the lower 2/3 parts of the muscle. These variables may exert an important influence of the outcome of reconstruction treatment in the case of the flaps used from the lower attachment of the muscle.