Blood supply to the platysma muscle flap: An anatomic study with clinical correlation

Purpose: This study evaluated the blood supply of the superiorly based and posteriorly based platysma muscle myocutaneous flap. Materials and Methods: Four fresh cadaver specimens were injected with Micr ofil (Flow Technologies, Inc, Carver, ME) red stain in the common carotid a rtery and blue stain in the: brachiocephalic vein. To clarify the blood sup ply to the platysma muscle, the blood vessels were first identified on late ral and posteroanterior radiographs of the specimens. Subsequently, anatomi c dissection of the arteries and veins associated with the platysma muscle and overlying skin was performed. Results: The submental artery was the primary vessel to the platysma muscle . The superior thyroid artery, occipital artery, and posterior auricular ar tery were identified as secondary vessels. The external jugular vein provid ed the primary venous drainage, followed by the submental vein. Conclusions: The superiorly based design has a reliable arterial blood supp ly (facial and submental arteries) and poor venous drainage. The posteriorl y based design has a reliable venous drainage (external jugular vein), but the arterial blood supply is almost random (occipital artery). (C) 2001 Ame rican Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.