Anatomical Study of Forehead Flap With Its Pedicle Based on Cutaneous Branch of Supratrochlear Artery and Its Application in Nasal Reconstruction

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate whether there is a consistent cutaneous branch by anatomic research of the supratrochlear artery. Ten fresh adult cadavers were selected. Anastomosis between the supratrochlear artery and supraorbital artery was observed. The mean distance from the supraorbital rim to the supratrochlear artery was 1.18 +/- 0.36 cm. A consistent cutaneous branch of the supratrochlear artery increased in a position 1.35 +/- 0.34 cm lateral to the midline that anastomosed abundantly with the cutaneous branch, the muscular branch of the opposite side, the ipsilateral muscular branch, and bilateral supraorbital arteries. An ultrathin forehead skin flap with the cutaneous branch as the blood vessel was designed and used for nasal reconstruction in 15 cases. Postoperatively, all flaps survived successfully with satisfactory surgical results. The advantages of the flap are its thin feature and preservation of the entirety of the frontalis muscle.