Anatomical and Clinical Study of the Posterior Auricular Artery Angiosome: In Search of a Rescue Tool for Ear Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: The retroauricular tissues have been used for a long time for ear reconstruction, but the anatomical bases of flaps of this region are not completely clear. The aim of this study was to estimate blood supply area and location of this on the skin and fascia retroauricular dependent of posterior auricular artery (PAA) to establish safe margins to design flaps for auricular reconstruction.

METHODS: Dissection under magnification (×3.5) of the PAA through a cervical approach; injection of methylmethacrylate in the PAA as a staining technique; retroauricular approach to identify the territory of irrigation of PAA in the retroauricular skin and fascia; measuring and location of the stained area; and report of 2 cases of ear reconstruction with fasciocutaneous and fascia flaps based on PAA, designed according to the anatomical study.

RESULTS: In a sample of 10 cadaveric specimens, the PAA irrigated an area of the retroauricular skin and fascia of 10.7 cm length × 7.07 cm wide equivalent to 60.44 cm(2) (95% CI, 37.07-83.81), with a distribution posterior to external auditory canal of 7.15 cm (95% CI, 5.53-8.77) and posterior to the helix insertion of 6.12 cm (95% CI, 4.89-7.35). In the 2 patients treated with fascia and fasciocutaneous flaps based on the PAA, these were good options for ear reconstruction.

CONCLUSION: A fascia or fasciocutaneous flap from the retroauricular region based on PAA within the dimensions and location found in this study will be a safe option for reconstruction of the ear.