There is an urgent desire to use a method for the reconstruction of facial tissues that allows not only to reliably eliminate the defect, but also to recreate all the features of the damaged area, with an inconspicuous scar and minimal trauma. But one of the most difficult issues in microsurgical autotransplantation of tissues of the maxillofacial area is the choice of the donor area and vessels for the safe and adequate isolation and revascularization of flaps.
THE AIM OF THE STUDY
Was to increase the efficiency of functional and aesthetic results of surgical treatment by developing new flaps from the STA pool while eliminating limited soft tissue facial defects.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In total, 27 unfixed corpses aged 18 to 78 years were examined, with the study of the topographic and anatomical features of the STA and its branches on both sides. In the period from 2018 to 2020 10 autotransplantations of tissue complexes from the periauricular area were performed.
RESULTS
The STA is one of the terminal branches of the external carotid artery. The length of the proximal STA is 15.0±25.5 mm, the diameter is 2.0±2.5 mm. Bifurcation into 2 terminal branches — anterior frontal branch, length 69.8±71.0 mm, diameter 0.9±1.5 mm, at the level of bifurcation 0.5±1.0 mm; and the posterior parietal ramus, length 77.7±78.0 mm, diameter 1.4±1.6 mm, at the level of bifurcation 0.7±1.5 mm. The coefficient of reduction in the diameter of the frontal ramus is 0.65 and the parietal ramus is 0.7. Developed 2 large types of different variations of skin flaps from the periauricular area. In clinical practice, facial defects were eliminated in 10 patients with a skin flap from the periauricular area, and complete healing was observed.
CONCLUSION
The flaps from the periauricular area, which we used in reconstructive surgery of the face, are raised to the STA and its terminal sections. Knowledge of the peculiarities of the topographic anatomy of the STA and its branches is important for the maxillofacial, reconstructive and plastic surgeon. Various variations of flaps from the periauricular area are possible, which allows creating a large modification of reconstructive methods for eliminating facial defects, which will reduce postoperative complications.
