Supraclavicular flap repair in the free flap era

Reconstruction of Defects After Oral Cancer Surgery With the Superior Thyroid Artery Perforator Flap

OBJECTIVE

The superior thyroid artery perforator flap (STAPF) was previously presented as a type of locoregional pedicled flap for lateral facial and temple defects. In this study, we aimed to present our clinical experience with this flap for the reconstruction of soft tissue defects after oral cancer surgery.

METHODS

From February 2019 to December 2022, 24 patients with oral cancers at the School and Hospital of Stomatology, Peking University were included. Among these patients, 10 had cancers located in the tongue, five in the cheek inside the oral cavity, three in the lower gingiva, two in the upper gingiva, two in the floor of the mouth, and two in the palate. All patients were treated with extended tumor resection, neck dissection, and STAPFs to reconstruct the soft tissue defects. The details of the flap, including the flap size, venous flow, vascular pedicle length, the attatched muscle, and operation time were evaluated.

RESULTS

The dimensions of the flap skin paddle ranged from 3 cm × 5 cm to 6 × 14 cm. Fourteen patients had a closely concomitant superior thyroid vein perforator. Ten patients had non-closely concomitant superior thyroid veins perforators which retrograde external jugular vein. The vascular pedicle length ranged from 5 to 9 cm. The infrahyoid muscle group or sternocleidomastoid muscle was included in the flaps in three patients. A total of 23/24 flaps were successful.

CONCLUSIONS

The STAPF is a viable reconstructive option for patients with oral cancers. It has the advantages of being robust, being thin, short operation time, and minor donor site complications.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4 Laryngoscope, 135:104-109, 2025.

Versatility of the supraclavicular artery island flap for head and neck reconstruction

Objective

To present our experience using the supraclavicular artery island flap (SCAIF) for head and neck reconstruction.

Methods

We performed a retrospective chart review to identify patients who underwent head and neck reconstruction with SCAIF at our institution. The following data were collected: age, sex, surgical indications, flap harvest time, flap dimensions, length of hospital stay, complications, and clinical outcomes.

Results

Thirty-three patients underwent SCAIF reconstruction, of whom four underwent pectoralis major myocutaneous flap reconstruction simultaneously. Twenty flaps were used to repair pharyngeal or esophageal defects following resection for tonsillar, hypopharyngeal, laryngeal, and cervical esophageal cancers. Five flaps were used for tracheal reconstruction following resection for tracheal or thyroid gland cancer. Seven flaps were used for reconstruction of cervical skin defects or fistulas related to a previous treatment. One flap for tracheal stenosis following tracheotomy. The mean age of the patients was 60.69 ± 11.47 years. The mean flap harvest time was 32.00 ± 4.44 min. The mean flap size was 10.16 ± 3.91 × 5.78 ± 0.68 cm. The mean length of hospital stay is 24.84 ± 13.78 days. Three patients had partial necrosis of the distal portion of the flap, which resolved with anti-infection therapy and local wound care. One patient developed a fistula that was resolved with wound care and further surgical intervention. Complete flap loss or major complications were not observed. No donor site complication or compromised shoulder function was observed.

Conclusion

The SCAIF can be successfully used to reconstruct head and neck defects with good outcomes and limited morbidity.

Level of Evidence

4.

Experience of using a supraclavicular flap in reconstruction of oral cavity defects

Introduction. In case of cancer of the oral mucosa at the first stage, the standard treatment approach is radical surgical intervention, with the formation of extensive defects leading to aesthetic and functional disorders. Taking into account the characteristics of defects, choosing a flap is a difficult task. Currently, there is a wide selection of regional and microvascular free flaps. However, not all flaps meet the requirements. The supraclavicular fasciocutaneous flap, being a regional flap, has a number of advantages: easy to harvest, reliable due to the constancy of the vascular pedicle, primary closure of the donor site, scarcity of hair, the possibility of closing various defects of the oral cavity.

 Aim. To evaluate the possibility of using a supraclavicular flap in patients with oral cancer to restore the defects after surgical treatment.

Materials and methods. The study included 10 patients with malignant tumors of the oral cavity who underwent surgical intervention with defect replacement using supraclavicular flap at the N. N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology between February of 2015 and May of 2021. In 4 cases, buccal mucosa was affected; in 3 cases, the retromolar area; in 1 case, oral floor mucosa; in 1 case, mandibular alveolar ridge; in 1 case, mobile tongue. Flap sizes were 5–10 × 5–8 cm. Three (3) patients had history of radiotherapy, and 1 of them had a radical dose.

Results. In 4 patients without previous radiotherapy, partial flap necrosis was observed. In 1 patient, sutural diastasis in the oral cavity after partial flap necrosis was diagnosed. There were no cases of total flap necrosis and fistula formation. Suture dehiscence in the donor bed was observed in 1 patient only.

Conclusion. Use of supraclavicular flap is an option for oral cavity defect replacement after surgical intervention in patients with malignant tumors of the oral cavity producing satisfactory esthetic and functional results. The advantages of this flap are simple flap dissection, reliability of vascular pedicle, flexibility, possibility of replacing large defects, scant hair coverage.

Clinical comparison of superior thyroid artery perforator flap and sternocleidomastoid myocutaneous flap for intraoral reconstruction

The aim was to evaluate the techniques and outcomes of superior thyroid artery perforator flaps (STAPF) for intraoral reconstruction and to compare them with those of the sternocleidomastoid myocutaneous flap (SCMMF). The cases of 43 patients who underwent reconstruction with either a SCMMF or STAPF for the repair of a medium-sized intraoral defect, between January 2013 and December 2020, were reviewed retrospectively. Although both flaps are based on the superior thyroid artery, their specific harvesting techniques largely differ. All SCMMF (n = 23) were superiorly-based rotational flaps with myocutaneous designs. The STAPF cases (n = 20) included 18 septocutaneous flaps and two chimeric flaps. The flap size was larger in the STAPF group (P = 0.008), while incomplete level IIB dissection (oncological safety) was more frequent in the SCMMF group (P = 0.002). The flap necrosis rate was lower in the STAPF group (STAPF 15% vs SCMMF 34.8%, though this was not statistically significant). Cox multivariate analysis showed that the postoperative flap outcome (total flap necrosis vs flap survival; hazard ratio 27, 95% confidence interval 2.149-336.05; P = 0.001) and complications (excluding fistula) (hazard ratio 14, 95% confidence interval 1.314-142.767; P = 0.029) were associated with overall patient survival. Both speech (P < 0.001) and neck mobility (P < 0.001) functions were superior with STAPF reconstruction. Compared with the traditional SCMMF, the STAPF was found to have a lower necrosis rate with uncompromised oncological safety during harvesting. The STAPF is a good alternative for the repair of medium-sized head and neck defects.

A Comprehensive Review on the Supraclavicular Flap for Head and Neck Reconstruction

ABSTRACT

The supraclavicular artery flap (SCF) is a highly vascularized fasciocutaneous flap overlying the shoulder. The flap was first described in 1979 by Lamberty but did not gain popularity until much later due to lack of a reliable technique. The main advantages of using the SCF include avoiding microsurgical techniques, requiring only a single-stage operation, shorter operative time compared with alternative options, and a wider patient population including those with comorbidities who may be excluded from more extensive operations including free flaps surgeries. The SCF has been successfully performed on individuals with advanced age, poor nutrition, cachexia, obesity, diabetes, tobacco use, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, supraventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, asthma, and steroid use. The largest disadvantages of the SCF include the possibility of distal tip necrosis, size limitation without pre-expansion, and a moderately visible donor site scar. The following review and meta-analysis of the SCF details its use historically as both an island and a pedicle flap, and its application in head and neck reconstruction.

Resurgence of regional flaps for head and neck reconstruction

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The strain on healthcare resources in light of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many head and neck surgeons to explore reconstructive options that may decrease length of stay. Here, we review three common and versatile regional flaps used in head and neck reconstruction that are comparable alternatives to free tissue transfer.

RECENT FINDINGS

Initial anatomic descriptions of the facial artery musculocutaneous (FAMM) flap, the supraclavicular artery island flap and the submental artery island flap were published decades ago. Since then, many have proposed modifications to these descriptions to improve technical ease and patient outcomes. Benefits of regional flaps include ease of harvest, comparable outcomes to free tissue microvascular flaps, shorter operative time and hospital length of stay. Drawbacks to regional flaps include limitations to size and reach, partial necrosis, wound dehiscence and surgeon experience. The integrity of the vascular pedicle is also contingent upon vessel preservation during the cancer ablation.

SUMMARY

Although a resurgence of regional flaps began well before the COVID-19 pandemic, many institutions began looking for alternatives to free flap reconstruction to conserve healthcare resources and minimize patient hospitalization time in the past year. There has been a revival of regional flaps such as the FAMM, supraclavicular and submental flaps that are valuable reconstructive options for many defects of the head and neck.

A comparative study on using superior thyroid artery perforator flaps versus traditional sternocleidomastoid myocutaneous flaps for reconstructions after oral cancer ablation: "New tricks for old dogs"?

OBJECTIVES

To introduce new superior thyroid artery perforator flaps (STAPF), and to compare the clinical outcomes with sternocleidomastoid myocutaneous flaps (SCMMF) for their intraoral applications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between January 2013 and December 2020, forty-three oral cancer patients who received post-oncologic reconstructions with one of these two regional flaps were retrospectively collected. Their techniques and outcomes were compared. All the STAPFs were preprepared with radiologic evaluations.

RESULTS

Despite the common arterial origins, the compositions and harvesting procedures of STAPF and SCMMF were different. Though SCMMFs (n = 23) were designed in rotational styles, most STAPFs (n = 20) were septocutaneous perforator flaps, with 2 chimeric ones. In addition, the sizes of STAPFs were generally larger than those of SCMMFs (p = 0.006). Success rate for STAPFs was much higher, with only three partial cutaneous necroses. Radiotherapy delay was more frequently found in those reconstructed with SCMMFs (P = 0.046), mostly due to fistula formations. Besides, incomplete level IIB dissections were also reported in 9 (20.9%) patients in SCMMF group. In our study, the overall survival was affected by both flap conditions (p = 0.014, 1.333-12.881) and postoperative surgical complications (except fistula) (P = 0.005, 2.240-84.134). Functionally speaking, post-reconstructive speech and neck mobility (p < 0.001) were better in the STAPF group.

CONCLUSIONS

With accumulated experiences on the use of locoregional flaps in the neck, STAPF, when well-prepared, can provide superior reconstructive outcomes for various intraoral defects. As a comparison with SCMMF in the same middle region, STAPF is a viable option with higher success rates and oncological safety for oral cancer patients.

Regional Salvage Flap Options in Head and Neck Reconstruction

Microvascular free tissue transfer is the standard in the complex head and neck reconstruction with success rates greater than 95%. Free tissue transfer allows for more versatility in reconstructing complex defects with better tissue match. Failures, however, do occur and subsequent free tissue transfer might not be an option due to either the patients' health or in a vessel depleted neck. In these challenging salvage scenarios, the head and neck reconstructive surgeon must turn to regional flaps for reconstruction. Here, we review multiple regional flap options for salvage head and neck reconstruction.

Potential Benefits from the Use of the Supraclavicular Artery Island Flap for Immediate Soft-Tissue Reconstruction During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction

The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic has placed significant strains on healthcare resources including staff, theatre, high dependency and intensive care availability. Surgery remains the optimal treatment for the majority of oral malignancies, and primary reconstruction is often necessary to avoid significant morbidity as a result of ablative procedures.

Description

The supraclavicular artery island flap (SCAIF) is increasingly finding a place as an alternative to free flap reconstruction of soft-tissue defects and has several specific advantages when compared to use of a soft-tissue free flap during the COVID-19 pandemic. It can be used for a range of head and neck defects.

Results

We describe our experience with the SCAIF during the pandemic in five patients with a variety of tumour types and locations. All five patients had a successful outcome with none requiring further reconstruction and all had a functional swallow postoperatively, including a patient who underwent a total pharyngeal reconstruction with a SCAIF.

Discussion

The use of a SCAIF during the current COVID-19 pandemic has significant advantages and is a reliable alternative to a soft tissue free flap.

Supraclavicular Artery Island Flap: Critical Appraisal and Comparison to Alternate Reconstruction

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

The supraclavicular artery island (SAI) flap may be a good option for selected head and neck reconstruction due to its reliability, ease of harvest, and favorable color match. The objective of this study was to examine the rates of complications for the SAI flap in head and neck oncologic reconstruction, with examination of risk factors and comparisons to alternative flaps often considered the gold-standard soft-tissue flaps for head and neck reconstruction: the pectoralis myocutaneous (PMC), radial forearm free flap (RFFF), and anterolateral thigh (ALT) flaps.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

Consecutive SAI flaps were compared to PMC, RFFF, and ALT flaps (non-SAI flap group), all performed by the senior author from 2010 to 2018. The non-SAI flaps were included if an SAI flap could have been performed as an alternate flap. The groups were compared based on demographics, flap dimensions, site of reconstruction, operating time, total hospital stay, total hospital costs, and complications.

RESULTS

One hundred seven SAI flaps and 194 non-SAI flaps were identified. SAI flaps were used less commonly than non-SAI flaps for mucosal defects (P < .001). The SAI flap dimensions were narrower but longer than non-SAI flaps (P < .001). SAI flaps had higher rates of total complications, partial flap necrosis, flap dehiscence at the recipient site, fistula, donor site dehiscence, and minor complications compared to non-SAI flaps (all P < .05). SAI flaps had higher rates of total complications, recipient site dehiscence, fistula, and minor complications in both the oral cavity and all mucosal sites compared to non-SAI flaps (all P < .05). SAI flaps for mucosal reconstruction were associated with higher rates of total complications (54% vs. 34%, P = .04), flap dehiscence at the recipient site (32% vs. 14%, P = .03), and major complications (21% vs. 5%, P = .02), compared to cutaneous reconstruction. Complications were equivalent between SAI flaps and non-SAI flaps for cutaneous reconstruction (all P > .05). Multivariate analysis showed that SAI flaps were associated with any postoperative complication (odds ratio [OR]: 3.47, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.85-6.54), partial flap necrosis (OR: 5.69, 95% CI: 1.83-17.7), flap dehiscence (OR: 5.36, 95% CI: 2.29-12.5), donor site complications (OR: 11.6, 95% CI: 3.27-41.0), and minor complications (OR: 5.17, 95% CI: 2.42-11.0). Within the SAI flap group, SAI flap length >24 cm was associated with postoperative complications on multivariate analysis (OR: 5.09, 95% CI: 1.02-25.5, P = .048).

CONCLUSIONS

The SAI flap is best suited for cutaneous reconstruction of the face, neck, and parotid/temporal bone regions due to the favorable color match; the thin, pliable nature of the skin; ease of harvest; and equivalent complication rates compared to alternate soft-tissue flaps. However, the SAI flap is associated with more complications for oral cavity and mucosal site reconstruction when compared to RFFF and ALT flaps and should be used in selected cases that do not require complex folding. For all sites, flaps longer than 24 cm should be used with caution.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3 Laryngoscope, 2020.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma Metastasis to the Supraclavicular Artery Island Flap Donor Site

A rare complication of flap reconstruction following oncologic ablation is metastasis to the donor site. We present a novel case of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA) recurrence at the right upper-extremity donor site following tonsillar SCCA resection with supraclavicular artery island flap reconstruction. Following surgery, the patient presented with cutaneous recurrence at the right upper-extremity donor site. Biopsy confirmed metastasis from the oropharyngeal primary. The patient developed two subsequent right upper-extremity recurrences before he died. The most likely mechanism of metastasis is direct implantation via contamination. This case demonstrates the importance of maintaining separate surgical fields and instruments during oncologic ablation and reconstruction. Laryngoscope, 131:E440-E442, 2021.