PreprintArticleVersion 1This version is not peer-reviewed
Is the Sublingual Artery a Reliable Alternative for Intraoral Anastomoses in Head and Neck Free Flap Reconstruction? Anatomical Basis and Preliminary Results
Version 1
: Received: 28 June 2024 / Approved: 29 June 2024 / Online: 1 July 2024 (11:29:34 CEST)
How to cite:
Starke, V.; Wallner, J.; Stigler, R.; Mannschatz, S.; Müller, J.; Brenner, E. Is the Sublingual Artery a Reliable Alternative for Intraoral Anastomoses in Head and Neck Free Flap Reconstruction? Anatomical Basis and Preliminary Results. Preprints2024, 2024070032. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202407.0032.v1
Starke, V.; Wallner, J.; Stigler, R.; Mannschatz, S.; Müller, J.; Brenner, E. Is the Sublingual Artery a Reliable Alternative for Intraoral Anastomoses in Head and Neck Free Flap Reconstruction? Anatomical Basis and Preliminary Results. Preprints 2024, 2024070032. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202407.0032.v1
Starke, V.; Wallner, J.; Stigler, R.; Mannschatz, S.; Müller, J.; Brenner, E. Is the Sublingual Artery a Reliable Alternative for Intraoral Anastomoses in Head and Neck Free Flap Reconstruction? Anatomical Basis and Preliminary Results. Preprints2024, 2024070032. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202407.0032.v1
APA Style
Starke, V., Wallner, J., Stigler, R., Mannschatz, S., Müller, J., & Brenner, E. (2024). Is the Sublingual Artery a Reliable Alternative for Intraoral Anastomoses in Head and Neck Free Flap Reconstruction? Anatomical Basis and Preliminary Results. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202407.0032.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Starke, V., Jakob Müller and Erich Brenner. 2024 "Is the Sublingual Artery a Reliable Alternative for Intraoral Anastomoses in Head and Neck Free Flap Reconstruction? Anatomical Basis and Preliminary Results" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202407.0032.v1
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Head and neck free flap reconstructions are often required to treat tumors or extensive post-traumatic jaw defects. The facial artery is the standard receiving vessel for intraoral microvascular anastomoses. However, its use is associated with several disadvantages, such as lesions of buccal nerve branches or the parotid duct and variability in course and diameter. This study aims to investigate whether sublingual artery branches can be considered an alternative intraoral supply vessel to the facial artery to avoid these drawbacks. Methods: 12 formalin-fixed cadaveric heads with 24 sides were dissected. The sublingual artery's origin, course, branching pattern, and distribution were examined. In addition, the diameters of the branches of the sublingual artery were assessed to identify potential supply vessels for anastomoses. Results: In ten of the 24 cases (41.7 %), the sublingual artery originated from the lingual artery and nine cases (37.5 %) from the facial artery. The main trunk of the sublingual artery was present in the floor of the mouth in all cases (100 %) with a diameter of ≥ 0.9 mm in vitro (1 mm in vivo). In 15 of the 24 half heads (62.5 %), branches of the sublingual artery with ≥ 0.9 mm were identified in this space. Conclusions: The large diameter of the sublingual artery on the floor of the mandible suggests that this vessel or its branches could be considered alternative pedicles for intraoral anastomoses in mandibular microvascular free flap grafts.
Keywords
Sublingual artery; Pedicle; Microvascular free flap reconstruction; Intraoral anastomosis; Head and neck cancer; Tumor surgery
Subject
Medicine and Pharmacology, Dentistry and Oral Surgery
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
