Archives of Craniofacial Surgery (대한두개안면성형외과학회지)

Korean Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (대한두개안면성형외과학회)
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Use of the frontal branch of the superficial temporal artery and the postauricular vein to overcome anatomic variations of superficial temporal vessels in scalp reconstruction with free tissue transfer: a case report

  • Dong-Jin Kim (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine) ;
  • Hojin Park (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine)
  • Received : 2024.01.23
  • Accepted : 2024.06.18
  • Published : 2024.06.20
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Abstract

The superficial temporal artery (STA) bifurcates into frontal and parietal branches. The parietal branch is used as a recipient vessel for scalp reconstruction, but it is absent in approximately 16.3% of individuals. In this case, a 72-year-old woman with an occipital scalp defect lacked both the parietal branch of the STA and the superficial temporal vein. To address this anatomic variation, we used the frontal branch of the STA and the posterior auricular vein as alternative recipient vessels for anterolateral thigh free flap reconstruction. The surgical procedure involved end-to-end microvascular anastomosis of one artery and one vein. Partial flap necrosis occurred postoperatively, but eventually resolved with debridement. The frontal branch of the STA and the posterior auricular vein can serve as reliable alternatives in the absence of the parietal branch. Reconstructive surgeons should be aware of anatomic variations of the STA and adapt their surgical approach accordingly.

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References

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