Sternocleidomastoid island flap preserving the branch from superior thyroid artery for the reconstruction following resection of oral cancer

Abstract

Introduction Sternocleidomastoid muscle has been described as a myocutaneous skin island flap where a skin paddle is taken over the lower aspect of the muscle for reconstruction of defect following resection of oral cavity cancer; however, its routine use is not recommended because of number of disadvantages including loss of flap. It is a superior pedicle based flap on the branch of occipital artery and lower arterial pedicle is sacrificed to gain the full length of the muscle. The oral part of the skin undergoes total or partial necrosis in many of the cases as this skin paddle receives its blood supply from a segment which is very far from the superior arterial pedicle. Patients and methods We describe a technique in which we preserve the branch from superior thyroid artery to the lower half of the muscle while raising the flap which leads to augmentation of the blood supply of the flap and reduces the incidence of necrosis and superficial sloughing. A total of 32 cases underwent reconstruction with this flap. Results The flap was used for floor of mouth defects in 8, tongue in 7, buccal mucosa in 8, base of tongue defects in 5 and lateral pharyngeal wall in two cases. Total flap loss occurred in 2, and loss of skin paddle in 5. Partial skin loss was seen in 3 cases. None of these 10 cases required secondary reconstruction as the mucosal defects healed by itself on prolonged nasogastric feeding and antibiotic cover. The final cosmesis was good. Conclusions Preserving the branch of superior thyroid artery supplements supply of blood and increases the viability of the flap. This flap may be a good option in select cases of oral cancer.