Cervical skin flaps in head and neck reconstruction.

Cervical flaps utilized in head and neck reconstruction have undergone innumerable modifications since their original description more than 100 years ago. They remain as a positive addition to options available to the head and neck surgeon with respect to the reconstruction of facial and cervical cutaneous defects and also to closure of pharyngocutaneous and orocutaneous fistulas. However, their use in esophageal reconstruction has become limited and has been largely replaced by other techniques as a result of the popularity of combined therapy programs utilizing radiation therapy, which decreases the viability of cervical tissue used in such reconstruction.