A morphometric analysis of the suitability of the transverse cervical artery as a recipient artery in head and neck free flap microvascular reconstruction

• Published in: Surgical and radiologic anatomy (English ed.) Vol. 40; no. 8; pp. 891 - 897
• Main Authors: Reissis, M., Reissis, Dimitris, Bottini, G. B., Messiha, A., Davies, D. C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Springer Paris 01.08.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anastomosis; Anatomy; Anatomy & physiology; Cadavers; Carotid artery; Head and neck; Imaging; Mandible; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Microvasculature; Morphometry; Mouth; Original Article; Orthopedics; Plastic surgery; Radiation therapy; Radiology; Sex differences; Surgery; Veins & arteries; Transverse cervical artery; Head and neck reconstruction; Microvascular surgery; Recipient artery

Purpose Gold standard recipient arteries in head and neck free flap microvascular reconstruction are currently branches of the external carotid. However, these arteries can be compromised by neck dissection or radiotherapy, resulting in ‘vessel-depleted neck’ and ‘frozen neck’ respectively. In such...