Microvascularized flaps in Maxillofacial Reconstruction: Advances in Microsurgery

Claudio Huentequeo-Molina; Daniel Pino Diaz; Emilio Moreno Apablaza; Juan Pablo Alister; Francisca Uribe; Alejandro Unibazo Zuñiga; Mariano Miño; Alejandro Ostrosky & Sergio Olate

Summary

Head and neck reconstruction have shown important advances over the years. Microvasculars flaps transfer has become the first treatment option in large defects of the maxillofacial area. Meanwhile technology through the use of microscopy and the subsequent use of images such as CT, CT angiography, RNM or Doppler ultrasonic device, and additional new techniques have contributed to an exceptional predictability of these microvascular flaps. Typically, the anastomosis technique consists in 9-0 suture in 360°, but since the vascular flaps exist, authors have described diverse non-suture methods with acceptable performance. There are a number of different microvasculars flaps, four of them are the most common in maxillofacial reconstruction: fibula, iliac, radial forearm, scapula. In addition the anterolateral tight flap, very useful in skin and soft tissues defects. The microvascular flaps evolution involves the chimeric flaps that are useful in large defects. The aim of this article is to describe and expose microsurgery development and the diverse microvascular flap options in maxillofacial reconstruction.

KEY WORDS: maxillofacial microsurgery, microsurgery, microvascular flap, free-tissue transfer, microvascular anastomosis.

How to cite this article

HUENTEQUEO-MOLINA, C.; PINO, D. D.; MORENO, A. E.; ALISTER, J. P.; URIBER, F.; UNIBAZO, Z. A.; MIÑO, M.; OSTROSKY, A. & OLATE, M. S. Microvascularized flaps in maxillofacial reconstruction: Advances in microsurgery. Int. J. Odontostomatol., 12(3):309-319, 2018.