Anatomical study of the superior pedicle of retroauricular skin flaps

RESUMO

Since the description of the flap proposed by Washio in 1969, several vascular pedicle models have been designed for the retroauricular flap, aiming chiefly to reduce the thickness of the pedicle so as to migrate the flap as an island. In spite of those advances, there are still problems such as venous stasis and partial loss of the flap.In a study in cadavers, twenty pedicles were dissected in order to find the presence or absence of veins in the region, maximum length of the pedicle and anatomical reference points for a safe dissection. All pedicles were located. The venous distribution found, that was different from that described in other studis, could account for the problems in venous drainage.