Trapezius Myocutaneous Flap

The trapezius myocutaneous flap is a reliable option for soft tissue coverage of the posterior upper trunk. Its indications can be further extended to include reconstruction of the mandible and parts of the aerodigestive tract. Sacrifice of the trapezius muscle is usually well tolerated but may result in decreased strength with shoulder and arm elevation. In this chapter we discuss the various iterations of the trapezius flap as well as describe a technique for its most common application.