A New Facial Composite Flap Model(Panorama Facial Flap) with Sensory and Motor Nerve from Cadaver Study for Facial Transplantation

Kim, Chan Woo; Do, Eon Rok; Kim, Hong Tae

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility that a dynamic facial composite flap with sensory and motor nerves could be made available from donor facial composite tissue.
METHODS
The faces of 3 human cadavers were dissected. The authors studied the donor faces to assess which facial composite model would be most practicable. A "panorama facial flap" was excised from each facial skeleton with circumferential incision of the oral mucosa, lower conjunctiva and endonasal mucosa. In addition, the authors measured the available length of the arterial and venous pedicles, and the sensory nerves. In the recipient, the authors evaluated the time required to anastomose the vessels and nerve coaptations, anchor stitches for donor flaps, and skin stitches for closure.
RESULTS
In the panorama facial flap, the available anastomosing vessels were the facial artery and vein. The sensory nerves that required anastomoses were the infraorbital nerve and inferior alveolar nerve. The motor nerve requiring anstomoses was the facial nerve. The vascular pedicle of the panorama facial flap is the facial artery and vein. The longest length was 78mm and 48mm respectively. Sensation of the donor facial composite is supplied by the infraorbital nerve and inferior alveolar nerve. Motion of the facial composite is supplied by the facial nerve. Some branches of the facial nerve can be anastomosed, if necessary.
CONCLUSION
The most practical facial composite flap would be a mid and lower face flap, and we proposed a panorama facial flap that is designed to incorporate the mid and lower facial skin with and the unique tissue of the lip. The panorama facial composite flap could be considered as one of the practicable basic models for facial allotransplantation.