ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the anatomical characteristics of mediate dorsal pedal cutaneous nerve and its nutritional vessels to provide anatomical basis of the perforator pedicle flap based on the medial dorsal pedal neurocutaneous vessels for repairing the forefoot soft-tissue defects.Methods From December,2016 to April,2017,the following contents were investigated in 30 adult feet specimens perfused with red latex:①The course,branches and distribution of the medial dorsal pedal cutaneous nerve.②The origin,course,branches and distribution of the nutrient vessels of the medial dorsal pedal neurocutaneous vessels.Mimic operation was performed on 1 fresh specimen.Results ①The mediate dorsal pedal cutaneous nerve mainly arose from the medial branch of the superficial peroneal nerve and processed forward for a distance of (2.5±0.4) cm under the surface of the inferior extensor retinaculum,and then divided into the mediate dorsal branch,the 1st and 2nd dorsal metatarsal branch over part of the dorsal pedal and digital skin.②The medial dorsal pedal neurocutaneous vessels were multiple segmental and polyphyletic,mainly include dorsalis pedis artery proximal perforator,the first metatarsal proximal perforator,the tibial proper plantar digital artery of the great toe and the perforater of the second toe web artery,of which the first metatarsal proximal perforator was most associated with operating methods.The first metatarsal proximal perforator perforate through the deep fascia to the subcutaneous area within the range of 1.0-2.0 cm near the proximal first plantar gap,the piercing point of which on deep fascia was constant,and the anatomical plane of the first metatarsal proximal perforator was higher than that of both the perforator of the toe web artery and the tibial proper plantar digital artery of the great toe.The first metatarsal proximal perforator divide into a large number of branches,which closely anastomose with adjacent perforators and other medial dorsal pedal neurocutaneous vessels.③Simulated surgery showed that the first metatarsal proximal perforation pedicle flap to meet the forefoot soft tissue defect repair.Conclusion The first metatarsal proximal perforator is constant in piercing point and reliable in blood supply,and it have a higher anatomical plane than that of both the perforator of the toe web artery and the tibial proper plantar digital artery of the great toe.The first metatarsal proximal perforator-based medial dorsal pedal neurocutaneous vascular flap can be transferred to repair the soft-tissue defects of forefoot.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#To investigate the morphological characters of the dorsal perforators originated from the deep palmar arch, so as to provide anatomic basis for V-Y advanced perforator flap.@*Methods@#The following contents were investigated in 30 adult hand specimens perfused with red latex under surgical magnifier: ①The origin, courses, branches and distribution of the dorsal perforators originatedd from the deep palmar arch. ②The characters of anastomosis among the dorsal perforators, the dorsal carpal and metacarpal arteries. Mimic operation was performed on another fresh specimens perfused with red latex.@*Results@#There were three perforators originated from the deep palmar arch, which passed through the 2nd-4th dorsal interossei and then divided into an ascending branch and a descending branch at the dorsum of hand. Then the ascending branch anastomosed with the dorsal carpal artery, and the descending branch stretched to the 2nd-4th dorsal metacarpal arteries. The originating outer diameters of the 1st-3rd perforators were (1.1±0.2) mm, (0.9±0.3) mm and (0.7±0.1) mm respectively, and the length of the stems were (1.1±0.3) cm, (1.0±0.2)cm and (0.9±0.1) cm respectively.@*Conclusions@#The V-Y advanced perforator flap with the dorsal perforator of the deep palmar arch as its vascular pedicle could be used to repair the dorsal carpal or dorsal metacarpal soft tissue defects.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the feasibility of the perforator-based intermediate dorsal pedal flap with vessels of cutaneous nerve nutrition for repair of soft tissue defects of the forefoot.Methods A retrospective case series study was performed for seven cases of soft tissue defects of the forefoot hospitalized between February 2013 and January 2017.There were five males and two females,with a mean age of 38 years (range,18-73 years).Injury regions were lateral plantar skin defect in the forefoot in three cases,dorsal skin defect in the third webbed toe in two cases and proximal dorsal skin defect in the fourth toe in two cases.The defect area was about 2.5 cm × 1.5 cm-4.5 cm × 2.0 cm.The perforator-based intermediate dorsal pedal flap with vessels of cutaneous nerve nutrition was designed on the lateral dorsum of the foot and then was incised and transferred to repair the forefoot wound based on its surgical anatomy.The time of surgery and the amount of intraoperative blood loss were recorded.An observation was done on feeling,appearance,texture,blood supply and survival of the flap as well as swelling,hypertrophic scar,itching,paralysis of the skin grafting area.The recovery of the activity function was assessed by American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score.Results The surgery time was 1.0-1.5 h (mean,1 h),and intraoperative bleeding was about 50 ml (range,30-100 ml).Seven cases of perforator-based dorsal medial skin flap with vessels of cutaneous nerve nutrition all survived,with early wound healing.After 2 to 15 months follow-up,two-point discrimination of flaps was 9-15 mm(average,12.5 mm).Skin flaps were with excellent texture and without swelling,the color of which was close to normal color with good appearance.The postoperative foot did not have bone resorption,wound infection,tendon adhesion,line-type or flaky scar left locally,lower limb walking dysfunction or other complications.Patients were satisfied with the functions of donor and recipient sites and the appearance of the flap.Conclusions Perforation-based dorsal flap with vessels of cutaneous nerve nutrition has high survival rate,satisfaction of appearance and fast recovery of recipient site,with no obvious foot pain,limitation of joint movement or other complications,and therefore is a reliable method to repair soft tissue defects in forefoot.