Scapular tip free flap in head and neck reconstruction.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article revises the present literature on the scapular tip free flap in head and neck reconstruction.

RECENT FINDINGS: Scapular tip flap has been recently proposed as a good option for reconstruction of multiple areas of the head and neck including maxilla, mandible, scalp, and larynx.

SUMMARY: This flap offers unique advantages such as the long pedicle, the possibility of harvesting chimeric flaps with multiple components, the reliability of the anatomy, and the good amount of bone that can be included in the flap. For these reasons, it is particularly useful in elderly patients or in reconstruction of those defects that require independent flap paddles, in particular for maxillary and mandibular reconstructions.