Temporalis pericranial muscle flap for reconstruction of the lateral face and head.

Large ablative surgical tissue defects of the lateral face and head can pose a difficult task for the reconstructive surgeon who must choose from among a large variety of possible reparative techniques. In many situations the temporalis pericranial muscle flap offers the outstanding feature of providing a large amount of soft tissue at no direct expense of donor site skin cover. It is easily obtained and results in negligible functional loss. With care taken to preserve the neurovascular pedicle, this flap may be rotated in multiple directions and even overturned as either surface can receive surface skin closure. The amount of operative time and effort required is much less than for many of the more elaborate reconstructive flaps. Five representative cases are presented.