A new arterial flap from the postauricular surface: its anatomic basis and clinical application.

We studied the arterial pattern of the postauricular surface in 16 cadavers and compared them to the results of Doppler probing in the auricles of 15 human volunteers. The dissections revealed that the postauricular surface is mainly supplied by three to five sizable branches from the upper, middle, and lower divisions of the posterior auricular artery, traversing in a rather straight and cephalic direction toward the auricular rim. One or more branches of the middle division are constantly present and distribute over the upper two-thirds of the postauricular surface. These anatomic findings were compatible with the results of the Doppler probing. We have done four auricular reconstructions with postauricular arterial flaps with excellent postoperative results. It is worthwhile to use the postauricular arterial flap in restoring the middle third of the auricle.