Transverse Cervical Artery Based Free Flap in Reconstruction of a Tongue Defect: A Case Report

Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2024 Feb;76(1):1044-1048. doi: 10.1007/s12070-023-04105-5. Epub 2023 Aug 2.

Abstract

In the era of reconstructive surgery, new and revolutionary options are being explored in oro-facial defect reconstruction. As free flaps are presently front runners for reconstruction of defects resulting from resection of benign and malignant lesions, there is a need for devising newer options to serve the need of covering defects following oncological resection. The availability of promising pedicles in the supraclavicular region makes it a potential donor site for harvesting regional flaps, and going forward, free flaps. Transverse cervical artery flap has been a useful regional flap for head and neck reconstruction but there are limited literature pertaining to transverse cervical artery free flap. We report a case of successful reconstruction of tongue defect with transverse cervical artery free flap.

Keywords: External jugular vein (EJV); Reconstructive surgery; Transverse cervical artery (TCA); Transverse cervical artery free flap (TCAFF); Transverse cervical vein (TCV).