New approach to an overlooked flap: Technique to augment venous drainage of the infrahyoid myocutaneous flap
Funding information: Program for New Clinical Techniques and Therapies of Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Grant/Award Number: PKUSSNCT-YS0203
Abstract
Background
To describe a technique in which the anterior jugular vein is preserved in the infrahyoid myocutaneous flap (IHMCF) to augment skin paddle venous drainage.
Methods
From April 2018 to December 2019, 14 patients with primary oral cancer underwent radical resection and IHMCF reconstruction. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the anterior jugular vein was used to assess the venous drainage of the skin paddle preoperatively. The anterior jugular vein was preserved during dissection of the flap. Healing of the recipient and donor sites was observed.
Results
Total flap necrosis occurred in one patient and marginal skin paddle necrosis occurred in one patient. No flap complications occurred in the other 12 patients.
Conclusion
This new approach to augment venous drainage of the IHMCF appears to be effective for decreasing risk of flap necrosis.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare no potential conflict of interest.
Open Research
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
All data included in this study are available upon request by contact with the corresponding author.
