Straightforward Method for Coverage of Major Vessels Following Modified Radical Neck Dissection

Publication date: Available online 15 December 2016
Source:Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Author(s): Raúl González-García, Carlos Moreno-García, Manuel Moreno-Sánchez, Leticia Román-Romero
A new method for covering the internal jugular vein and carotid artery following exposure of the cervical vascular axis subsequent to neck dissection is presented. To cover the most caudal part of the vascular axis, a platysma coli muscle flap is harvested from its most medial and inferior part of the neck in a caudally-based fashion, while it is slightly rotated posteriorly up to 45º. In addition, a superiorly-based sternocleidomastoid muscle flap involving the posterior half of the muscle after detachment of the clavicle head is harvested and rotated 45º anteriorly to cover the upper two-thirds of the vascular axis. This technique seems to be a good alternative to the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap for covering cervical major vessels if no classical radical neck dissection is performed, especially in those oncologic malnourished patients that will undergo adjuvant radiotherapy following surgical treatment.



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