Important vasculature for supraclavicular flap creation

These illustrations were created to help educate head and neck surgeons about the specific anatomy of the supraclavicular region in order to preserve the supraclavicular artery and vein when creating a fasciocutaneous flap.

This flap is created from the skin of the shoulder overlying the deltoid, and is used for reconstruction of the head and neck following tumor removal. The flap remains connected to its blood supply as it is repositioned to the head, and can reach many facial structures including the mouth. It is very important to know the course of the artery and vein in order to create an optimal flap with good perfusion.