An Easy Way to Harvest a Superthin SCIP Flap with Long Pedicle: Reappraisal of the Inferolateral Branches of the SCIA

Abstract

Summary: Despite being the first free flap used in reconstructive surgery, the groin flap slowly fell out of fashion because of its short pedicle length, small vessel diameter, variable vascular anatomy, and bulkiness. Over the years, the authors have found that perforators consistently exist inferolateral to the deep branch of the superficial circumflex iliac artery (SCIA), forming an F configuration with the main branch. The authors propose a new type of superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator (SCIP) flap design based on the perforators derived from these inferolateral branches of the SCIA. These perforators have the advantage of anatomic consistency and can be easily found by making an exploratory incision 2 cm caudal to the inguinal ligament. The perforators of the inferolateral branches extend directly into the dermal plexus, and thus can yield superthin flaps without microdissection defatting. Retrograde dissection allows the surgeon to elongate the pedicle to include a section or full length of the SCIA as needed and involving minimal muscle dissection. SCIP flaps harvested based on the perforators of the inferolateral branches of the SCIA were used successfully for six head and neck reconstructions and two trunk reconstructions with no major complications, including flap loss or lymphedema. The best indications for SCIP flaps based on the inferolateral branches of the SCIA are superficial soft-tissue defects that do not require much volume replacement.