THE FASCIOCUTANEOUS SUPRACLAVICULAR ARTERY ISLAND FLAP FOR RELEASING POSTBURN MENTOSTERNAL CONTRACTURES

Mentosternal contractures represent a surgical challenge to the plasti c and reconstructive surgeon. We add the supraclavicular artery island flap to the armamentarium of surgical procedures to improve the funct ion and cosmesis of disfigured patients. Since July of 1994, the supra clavicular artery island flap has been used at our institution for rel easing postburn mentosternal contractures in eight patients. The flap was planned to be 4 to 10 cm in width and 20 to 30 cm in length with t he supraclavicular vessels running axially. All donor defects could be closed primarily without significant postoperative complications in s even of the eight patients. All flaps healed primarily, achieving a go od functional result by complete removal of contracting scar tissue fo r all patients; one donor site healed by secondary intention. We found the supraclavicular artery island flap both reliable and safe for imm ediate resurfacing after resection of cervical scars. The anatomy, ope rative procedure, and postoperative results of the supraclavicular art ery island flap are outlined in this paper.