Superficial Circumflex Iliac Artery Perforator Flap in Advanced Head and Neck Reconstruction: From Simple to Its Chimeric Patterns and Clinical Experience with 22 Cases. Issue 3 (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Scaglioni, Mario F.; Meroni, Matteo; Fritsche, Elmar; Rajan, Gunesh
• Is Part Of: Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Volume 149:Issue 3(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: Surgery, Plastic -- Periodicals; 617.95205
• DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000008878
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-1052

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Head and neck tissue defects after ablative head and neck surgery often require complex and composite reconstructions. The superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator (SCIP) flap is an extremely versatile perforator-based flap with minimal donor-site morbidity. The authors present their experience with both simple and chimeric SCIP flap reconstructions for complex defects in various head and neck regions. Methods: Twenty-two patients undergoing ablative head and neck surgery for oncologic abnormalities were treated by means of a SCIP flap reconstruction. Patients' mean age was 62 years; 21 were men and one was a woman. Seventeen flaps were simple and five were chimeric reconstruction patterns. Indocyanine green perfusion imaging was performed in all cases. Results: Twenty-one of 22 patients (95.5 percent) were successfully treated with good aesthetic and functional results. Two patients (9 percent) showed minor donor-site complications that were managed conservatively. The mean follow-up period was 5.3 months (range, 2 to 8 months). Conclusions: This case series demonstrates the reliability and versatility of the SCIP flap for head and neck reconstruction. The chimeric options combined with bone, double-skin paddle, and muscle offer a broad variety of functional reconstructive solutions for complex head and neck surgery. Intraoperative indocyanine green perfusion examinations are a valuable tool to assess and ascertain proper inset, vitality, and postanastomosis vessel patency in these complex microvascular flap reconstructions. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.