[Vascular ultrastructure of the scapular flap].

The authors dissected fourteen cadaveric scapular flaps to study isolated free fascial and subcutaneous tissue transfer. They perfused these flaps with a special solution of lead oxide and gelatin (Rees and Taylor 1986). After fixation in formaldehyde, the flaps were dissected in three layers and radiographs were made of these compartments. In the basal layer, which comprises 40% of the flap thickness, an epifascial network of small vessels was found. In the most superficial, subdermal compartment which makes up 30% of the flap, a similar network was found. Therefore, it should be possible to dissect isolated fasciocutaneous or deep subcutaneous microvascular flaps. To thin a scapular flap, the subcutaneous middle third should be removed to protect these plexus of vessels.