Anatomy of the platysma muscle and the evaluation of it for the reconstruction of facial defects.

Reconstruction of the defects with various flaps is the main issue in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Tissues used for the repair of the defects of the face should be convenient for this most important aesthetic unit. Color, elasticity, and volume of the transferred tissues have the utmost importance for successful results. Platysma muscle flap appears to be a good alternative method for the reconstruction of the facial defects. Anatomic dissections on five fresh cadavers for the evaluation of the vascular structures and 11 clinical cases of reconstruction of the defects of the face and the neck with platysma muscle and musculocutaneous flaps are performed in this study to evaluate the efficacy and reliability of platysma flaps. Cadaveric dissections were performed on the face and the neck regions on both sides. Eleven patients with various defects on the face and the upper neck regions were surgically treated: three transverse cervical artery-based transverse musculocutaneous platysma flaps, seven facial artery-based vertical musculocutaneous platysma flaps, and one superior thyroidal artery-based platysma muscle flap were used for the repairs. The patients ranged in age from 42 to 74 years. The defects measured 2x3 cm to 6x9 cm and the flaps 3x3 cm to 7x10 cm. The follow-up periods were 2 to 21 months. Postoperative venous congestion between the 5th and 9th days was observed in seven patients. One patient had infection of the donor site, and another had infection of the recipient site; both recovered with systemic and topical antibiotherapy. Partial flap loss occurred in one patient. Our study concluded that platysma flaps showed sufficient tissue match with successful results for the reconstructive procedures of facial defects.