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Hussaini et al. Plast Aesthet Res 2022;9:30 Plastic and
DOI: 10.20517/2347-9264.2021.132
Aesthetic Research

Review Open Access

The submental island pedicled flap and
supraclavicular artery island flap in a free flap

practice

1
Adnan S. Hussaini , Urjeet A. Patel 2
1
Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611,
USA.
2
Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Correspondence to: Dr. Adnan S. Hussaini, Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Northwestern University
Feinberg School of Medicine, 675 N St Clair St 15th Floor, Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
E-mail: adnan.hussaini@northwestern.edu

How to cite this article: Hussaini AS, Patel UA. The submental island pedicled flap and supraclavicular artery island flap in a free
flap practice. Plast Aesthet Res 2022;9:30. https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2347-9264.2021.132

Received: 8 Dec 2021 First Decision: 19 Jan 2022 Revised: 4 Feb 2022 Accepted: 10 Mar 2022 Published: 20 Apr 2022
Academic Editor: Marten Basta Copy Editor: Xi-Jun Chen Production Editor: Xi-Jun Chen

Abstract
Reconstruction of head and neck defects is a delicate endeavor that poses numerous intrinsic and extrinsic
challenges, which are currently magnified by rising health care costs and limitations in system resources. Current
trends in the United States heavily favor the use of free tissue transfer over locoregional pedicles flaps (LRPF);
however, the latter group is often undervalued, offering high utility, practicality, and cost-efficiency whilst providing
equivalent results. The submental island flap and supraclavicular artery island flap are two LRPF that should be in
the arsenal of the modern reconstructive surgeon.

Keywords: Head and neck reconstruction, free tissue transfer, locoregional pedicled flap, cost efficiency, oral
cavity, oropharynx

INTRODUCTION
The reconstruction of oral cavity and oropharyngeal defects is often the most challenging aspect of surgical
management of head and neck disease. Given the immense variability in intrinsic tumor biology, size and

© The Author(s) 2022. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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