THE BIPEDICLED OSTEOCUTANEOUS SCAPULA FLAP - A NEW SUBSCAPULAR SYSTEM FREE FLAP

Thirty-six adult dissections (14 cadaver and 22 operative) demonstrate the constant presence of the angular branch of the thoracodorsal artery as a vascular pedicle to the inferior pole of the scapula. This vessel originated in all cases just proximal or distal to the serratus branch of the thoracodorsal artery and arborized to the periosteum 6 to 9 cm from the bony branch of the circumflex scapular artery. In eight patients, scapular osteocutaneous flaps were raised preserving the angular branch and the circumflex scapular artery and dissecting up to the subscapular vessels. In all cases, bone was independently perfused by the angular branch. In all six cases where the angular branch was the sole supply to bone, technetium-99m scans demonstrated perfusion. Addition of this vascular pedicle to scapula bone allows two separate bone flaps with one microanastomosis and provides a longer arc of rotation between skin supplied by the circumflex scapular artery and bone. Donor-site morbidity was no greater than with the standard scapula flap.