RECONSTRUCTIVE Supraclavicular Artery Island Flap for Head and Neck Oncologic Reconstruction: Indications, Complications, and Outcomes

Background: The supraclavicular island flap has been used successfully for difficult facial reconstruction cases, providing acceptable results without using microsurgical techniques. The authors use this regional flap in reconstructing various head and neck oncologic defects that normally require traditional re-gional or free flaps to repair surgical wounds. Methods: A pedicled supraclavicular artery flap was used to reconstruct head/ neck oncologic defects. Complications and functional outcomes were assessed. Results: Head and neck oncologic patients underwent tumor resection fol-lowed by immediate reconstruction using a supraclavicular artery island flap. Ablative defects included neck, tracheal-stomal, mandible, parotid, and pha-ryngeal walls. All flaps (n 18) were harvested in less than 1 hour. All ablative wounds and donor sites were closed primarily and did not require additional surgery. Major complications included a complete flap loss when the vascular pedicle was inadvertently divided and pharyngeal leaks. The leaks resolved without surgical intervention, and both patients regained the ability to swallo