The superficial circumflex iliac artery (SCIA) is the most reliably present perforator vessel supplying the thin skin lateral to and below the inguinal ligament. It is the pedicle for the SCIA flap — a thin fasciocutaneous flap used for head and neck and extremity reconstruction. Its Doppler signal is identified just below the inguinal ligament lateral to the femoral pulse before flap harvest.
| Origin | Femoral artery just below the inguinal ligament |
|---|
The SCIA flap has replaced the radial forearm flap in many head and neck reconstruction centres due to its thinner tissue profile, minimal donor morbidity, and absence of skin graft need. Preoperative CTA or Doppler mapping confirms perforator location before flap planning. The flap can include the underlying lateral femoral cutaneous nerve for sensate reconstruction.
Superficial circumflex iliac artery flap harvest for head and neck reconstruction with primary closure of the groin donor site.
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