SUPRACLAVICULAR ARTERY FLAP: A SAFE, VERSATILE AND A RELIABLE FLAP A NEW WORKHORSE IN HEAD AND NECK RECONSTRUCTION OUR CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

Background: Anterior cervical contractures of the neck represent a great challenge for plastic and reconstructive surgeons. Necks can be reconstructed with wide range surgical techniques. The supraclavicular flap is easy to harvest without need free tissue transfer. It provides relatively large resurfacing very similar that neck. Material Methods: This study was carried out in Plastic Surgery Department GMC Srinagar between November 2015 October 2019. involved 50 patients (40 females 10 males), whom artery done reconstruct head Follow-up period ranged from 2-27 months (average 12.3). Results: patients. Mean age 26.5 years (range 57-12 years). Thirty five had post-burn contractures, portwine stain face, three marjolin ulcer, four post traumatic bear maul defect. We harvested unilateral flaps all In thirty pedicled, adipofascial pedicle twelve were islanded. size defect 23x10 14x6, varied 16x7cm 25x11. length 21.7 cm. used partial thickness skin graft donor site closure 41 cases closed primarily 9 cases. Flap resurface 35 patients, face as intraoral lining 3 following complications occurred: hematoma cases, distal necrosis 2 loss Conclusion: island thin, malleable fasciocutaneous easily rapidly harvested, reliable minimal morbidity. constitutes an alternative local flaps, while providing equivalent functional results, must integral part surgeons therapeutic armamentarium.