Using the internal mammary artery as recipient artery in cervicofacial reconstruction by fibular flap

This study was designed to investigate the anatomy of the internal mammary to its use for mandibular reconstruction using a fibula free flap for patients without other recipient vessels in the neck. This technique could be an alternative to venous grafts in vascular desert cases.We dissected the internal mammary artery in 6 cadavers from the clavicle down to the 5th rib.The length of the artery once released was 11 to 13 cm, its distal diameter of 2 to 3 mm.We measured the distance separating the distal end of the liberated artery with the hyoid anatomical landmark for the vascular anastomoses of the mandibular fibula flap reconstructions, this distance varies from 0 to 15 mm, theoretically allowing the use of the internal mammary artery for complexes mandibular reconstructions.

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