Anatomical basis and results of the facial artery musculomucosal flap for oral reconstruction

Citation
L. Dupoirieux et al., Anatomical basis and results of the facial artery musculomucosal flap for oral reconstruction, BR J ORAL M, 37(1), 1999, pp. 25-28
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
Dentistry/Oral Surgery & Medicine
Journal title
BRITISH JOURNAL OF ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY
ISSN journal
02664356 → ACNP
Volume
37
Issue
1
Year of publication
1999
Pages
25 - 28
Database
ISI
SICI code
0266-4356(199902)37:1<25:ABAROT>2.0.ZU;2-1
Abstract
The facial artery musculomucosal (FAMM) flap is a newly designed buccal muc osal flap that was first described in 1992. The long rotational are of this flap is particularly suitable for anterior palatal defects that are otherw ise difficult to treat with local flaps. However, after the first clinical reports, some controversies arose about the reliability of this flap, so we conducted an anatomical study of the vascular pattern with a lates prepara tion in 10 cadavers. We studied the variations of the course of the facial artery and focused on the relationship between the facial artery and vein w ithin the pedicle. We concluded that the flap is more an arterialized flap than an axial-pattern flap, and have given anatomical landmarks to optimize the survival rate. Our preliminary clinical results (five good results, on e complete failure) are acceptable.