[Reconstruction of soft tissue defects in maxillofacial region using sternal head of sternocleidomastoid myocutaneous flap].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the preliminary etfect of using the sternal head of the sternocleidomastoid myocutaneous flap to reconstuct a defect in the maxillofacial region.

METHODS: From May 2004 to September 2006, 5 male patients aged 23-34 underwent the reconstruction for the defect in the maxillofacial region by using the sternal head of the sternocleidomastoid myocutaneous flap. Their defects were caused by an infection of the face, an injection of medicine in the mother's uterus or a scar or depressed abnormality left by an electric injury. The defects ranged in size from 5 cm x 3 cm to 9 cm x 6 cm.

RESULTS: All the 5 sternocleidomastoid myocutaneous flaps survived, with a little necrosis of the epidermis because of the venous return disturbance, but 2-3 weeks after operation the necrosis healed spontaneously with just a little scar formation around the flap. One patient had weakness in the left shoulder after operation, which almost recovered 6 months after operation. The postoperative follow-up for 1-6 months revealed that 1 patient had a little fat and clumsy appearance in the flap pedicle, 1 patient had an obvious scar at the operation site, but the 2 patients still felt satisfaction. The other 3 patients were satisfied with their good appearance at the operation sites.

CONCLUSION: The sternal head of the sternocleidomastoid myocutaneous flap can be designed with more flexibility compared with the entire sternocleidomastoid myocutaneous flap. It can provide an enough tissue mass for restoring the defect. The sternal head of the sternocleidomastoid myocutaneous flap is an ideal tissue flap for restoring defects in the maxillofacial region.