Design of skin islands for a myocutaneous serratus anterior free flap-An anatomical study and clinical implication for pharyngeal reconstruction after laryngopharyngectomy.

Objectives: The main purpose of this study was to evaluate flap size and flap design of skin islands in myocutaneous serratus anterior free flaps (SAFFs) in fresh cadavers and to further investigate whether myocutaneous SAFFs are suitable flaps for pharyngeal reconstruction after laryngopharyngectomy.

Methods: Dissection and injection of methylene blue were performed in 20 hemithoraces of 13 fresh cadavers to evaluate flap size and location of skin islands. Based on these pre-clinical data, we performed pharyngeal reconstruction with myocutaneous SAFF in five patients after laryngopharyngectomy.