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CC BY 4.0 · Indian J Plast Surg
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1802643
Original Article

A Cadaveric Study of the Anatomical Characteristics of the Superficial Circumflex Iliac Artery Perforator

Tanvi Rao 
1   Department of Plastic Surgery, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
,
Vijay Jaganathan 
2   Department of Plastic Surgery, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Puducherry, India
,
Jonathan Victor
3   Department of Plastic Surgery, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
,
Pappu Paramartha Lingam
2   Department of Plastic Surgery, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Puducherry, India
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Abstract

Background The superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator flap (SCIP flap) is an evolution of the conventional free groin flap. Even though the anatomical basis for SCIP flap is well established in general, the same is not described in a South Indian population.

Objectives The objectives of our study were to determine the anatomical variations of the superficial circumflex iliac artery perforators (SCIA perforators) and describe them in relation to the nearby bony landmarks like anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) and pubic tubercle (PT).

Materials and Methods This observational study was done between October 2020 and December 2021. Cadaveric dissection was done and the required anatomic data were collected.

Results The mean diameter of SCIA was 0.99 mm and the mean pedicle length was 2.97 cm. The average diameters of the medial and lateral perforators were 0.63 and 0.55 mm, respectively. The pedicle lengths of the medial and lateral perforators were 3.03 and 4.31 cm, respectively. The medial perforator was 5.63 cm lateral and 1.66 cm superior to the PT. It was 5.37 cm medial and 5.99 cm inferior to the ASIS. The lateral perforator was 7.97 cm lateral and 2.73 cm superior to the PT. It was 2.86 cm medial and 4.11 cm inferior to the ASIS.

Conclusion Finding the exact location of the medial and the lateral perforators with respect to permanent bony landmarks and having an idea about their average pedicle length are useful for preoperative planning of the SCIP flap.

Keywords

SCIP flap - cadaveric study - perforators - superficial circumflex iliac artery - anatomic variations


Publication History

Article published online:
11 February 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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