Osteocutaneous Scapula Flap Harvest Technique

Oct 2, 2023

Paul Kelly CMI, Albert Fung, Ralph Gilbert, David Goldstein, Jean Lin, Ian McGilvray, Joy Qu, Lesia Szyca, Gordon Tait

Toronto Video Atlas of Surgery (TVASurg)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

In the field of Ear, Nose and Throat, or ENT, surgery, defects to the mandible and/or maxilla caused by injury or disease are often repaired using an osteocutaneous scapula flap harvest technique. This involves careful dissection of the tip of the scapula bone and a workable length of vascular pedicle that includes an arterial supply and venae comitantes. Special attention must be given to the angular branch of the TDA (and its anatomical variants), which supplies the scapula tip. Depending on the defect, the bone flap may be accompanied by a skin flap, or as shown in this animation, a flap of latissimus dorsi muscle.

Purpose
This 3D animated video, intended for surgical fellows in the field of Ear, Nose and Throat, or ENT, surgery, introduces viewers to the surgical plan for an osteocutaneous scapula flap harvest technique. Beginning with patient position and anatomical landmarks, the animation highlights the major steps in dissection, with special attention given to the angular branch of the TDA, which supplies the scapula tip.

The full version of this video, including operative footage, can be viewed at http://tvasurg.ca

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Equipment
Maxon Cinema4D & ZBrush, Adobe After Effects, Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve