Objective: To provide ideal materials for cervical burn contracture repair through a morphological study of free flaps of the scapular region.
Methods: Variform free flaps of the scapular region were designed according to the cervical defect after scar had been resected. The angiosomes of each cutaneous branch of the circumflex scapular artery (CSA) were observed and investigated through uninterrupted extension of the flap size.
Results: A total of 73 cases of cervical burn contracture have been treated with free flaps of different shapes of the scapular region since 1992. 41 were fusiform flaps pedicled on ascending and descending branches of the CSA. 26 were three-lobe flaps pedicled on ascending, transverse and descending branches of the CSA. 6 cases were two-lobe flaps pedicled on transverse and ascending or branches of the CSA. Two fusiform flaps necrosed owing to atherosclerosis and hyperemesis. The survival rate of the flaps was 97.26%.
Conclusions: The free flaps of scapular region could be designed in different based on the three cutaneous branches of the CSA. More diverse designs can be expected since the report of the inflamammary branches of the CSA recently.