Methods of Vascular Pedicle Coverage

Based on our clinical experience, various methods of donor or recipient vascular pedicle coverage for an arterialized or free flap are reported. The vascular pedicle may be placed in the subcutaneous space either by incising the skin along the full length of the vascular route or by passing it through a subcutaneous tunnel. It has been our experience that the vascular pedicle can also be covered by either a local flap or a free skin graft. On rare occasions, a narrow skin flap strip including the vascular pedicle can be lifted en bloc and rotated toward the base of the area transferred.