TY - JOUR
T1 - Sternohyoid flap for facial reanimation
T2 - A comprehensive preclinical evaluation of a novel technique
AU - Alam, Daniel S.
AU - Haffey, Timothy
AU - Vakharia, Kalpesh
AU - Rajasekaran, Karthik
AU - Chi, John
AU - Prayson, Richard
AU - McBride, Jennifer
AU - McClennan, Gordon
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2013 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2013/7
Y1 - 2013/7
N2 - IMPORTANCE Neuromuscular reanimation of the face provides the correct specific neural functional input and thereby prevents synkinesis. Unfortunately, this ideal situation is rarely encountered in the clinical setting. OBJECTIVES To assess the technical feasibility of and define the surgical procedure for harvesting the sternohyoid muscle as a novel free flap for use in facial reanimation indications. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Fresh, postmortem, nonfixed cadavers were used to define the anatomy and perform the flap harvest procedures. Twenty-four flap harvests were performed. Angiography was performed on the pedicle of the harvested flaps to assess potential flap perfusion. Adenosine triphosphatase staining was performed on the muscle specimens to establish fiber type. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The harvest technique, pedicle (arterial or venous), nerve length, and flap geometry parameters were characterized. RESULTS The sternohyoid muscle was found to be reliably vascularized by the superior thyroid artery in all cases with an appropriate arterial and venous pedicle for vascular anastomosis. The mean arterial (5.5 cm) and venous (5.9 cm) pedicle lengths are comparable with gracilis flaps. The mean motor nerve length was 10.7 cm. The inclusion of the hyoid bone allows rigid fixation, and the muscle size, fiber type, and volume profiles all compare favorably to the gracilis flap for use in the indication of facial reanimation. Mock surgical procedures were performed to define inset parameters. This flap potentially allows single-stage cross-facial neurorrhaphies to be performed. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This is the first article, to our knowledge, of the sternohyoid muscle as a potential donor site for free-tissue transfer. This muscle has a predictable vascular pedicle and neural innervation along with size and fiber type parameters that make it an ideal potential free flap for facial reanimation. LEVELOFEVIDENCE NA.
AB - IMPORTANCE Neuromuscular reanimation of the face provides the correct specific neural functional input and thereby prevents synkinesis. Unfortunately, this ideal situation is rarely encountered in the clinical setting. OBJECTIVES To assess the technical feasibility of and define the surgical procedure for harvesting the sternohyoid muscle as a novel free flap for use in facial reanimation indications. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Fresh, postmortem, nonfixed cadavers were used to define the anatomy and perform the flap harvest procedures. Twenty-four flap harvests were performed. Angiography was performed on the pedicle of the harvested flaps to assess potential flap perfusion. Adenosine triphosphatase staining was performed on the muscle specimens to establish fiber type. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The harvest technique, pedicle (arterial or venous), nerve length, and flap geometry parameters were characterized. RESULTS The sternohyoid muscle was found to be reliably vascularized by the superior thyroid artery in all cases with an appropriate arterial and venous pedicle for vascular anastomosis. The mean arterial (5.5 cm) and venous (5.9 cm) pedicle lengths are comparable with gracilis flaps. The mean motor nerve length was 10.7 cm. The inclusion of the hyoid bone allows rigid fixation, and the muscle size, fiber type, and volume profiles all compare favorably to the gracilis flap for use in the indication of facial reanimation. Mock surgical procedures were performed to define inset parameters. This flap potentially allows single-stage cross-facial neurorrhaphies to be performed. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This is the first article, to our knowledge, of the sternohyoid muscle as a potential donor site for free-tissue transfer. This muscle has a predictable vascular pedicle and neural innervation along with size and fiber type parameters that make it an ideal potential free flap for facial reanimation. LEVELOFEVIDENCE NA.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84882313424&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1001/jamafacial.2013.287
DO - 10.1001/jamafacial.2013.287
M3 - Article
C2 - 23702665
AN - SCOPUS:84882313424
SN - 2168-6076
VL - 15
SP - 305
EP - 313
JO - JAMA facial plastic surgery
JF - JAMA facial plastic surgery
IS - 4
ER -