CROSS-FACIAL VEIN GRAFTING IN COMPLICATED FLAP RECONSTRUCTIONS OF THEFACE AND MANDIBLE

Microvascular flap reconstructions of facial and mandibular defects ar e achieving increasingly widespread application and, as a result, more patients are considered for such procedures after large tumors, conge nital abnormalities, previous surgery (including failed and successful microsurgical procedures), and radiation have compromised potential r ecipient vessels on the side of the defect. In three such cases, contr alateral facial vessels with vein grafts have been used to provide fla p-recipient vessels. Each flap was successful. Cross-facial vein graft ing is a relatively simple solution for utilizing undamaged vessels as recipient pedicles in complicated flap reconstructions of the face an d mandible.