Three-dimensional angiography of the submental artery perforator flap.

BACKGROUND

The submental flap, based on a large branch of the facial artery, is an excellent flap option which is most commonly used for head and neck reconstruction. The purpose of this report is to clarify aspects of the anatomy of the submental flap in order to improve the utility of this flap.

METHODS

Ten cadavers were injected with a modified lead oxide-gelatin mixture. Four cadavers were selected for three-dimensional reconstruction using a spiral computed tomography scanner and specialised volume-rendering software. Dissection, angiography and photography of each layer were performed to outline the course of every perforator in the neck. The area of the vascular territory supplied by each source vessel was calculated. Surface areas were measured using Scion Image software.

RESULTS

The skin and muscles on the anterior neck and mandible are nourished by several arterial perforators: facial artery, superior thyroid artery, mental artery, lingual artery and the submental artery. The diameter of the submental artery was 1.7 ± 0.4mm at its origin from the facial artery. It sends 1.8 ± 0.6 perforators to the skin on its course towards the chin. The average size of the territory supplied was 45 ± 10.2 cm(2). Its largest perforating branch arises from behind the medial border of the anterior belly of the digastric muscle. There were multiple anastomoses between perforators from the submental artery, facial artery and sublingual artery.

CONCLUSIONS

This study clarifies the anatomy of the submental flap and provides a three-dimensional understanding to this important head and neck donor site.