RESUMEN
To provide anatomy information for harvesting the posterior tibial artery cutaneous branches-chain flaps. Methods The research was performed from January, 2017 to January, 2018. Anatomic ob-servation on 10 legs from fresh human cadaver were performed. The location of cutaneous branches of the posterior tibial artery was observed and its diameter and length was measured. Five legs were prepared to investigate the cuta-neous branches of posterior tibial artery.The anastomosis of cutaneous branches of posterior tibial artery was observed by PVA-bismuth oxide perfusion for molybdenum target X-ray arteriography in 5 perfused legs. The cutaneous branches with diameter over 0.2 mm in 10 legs of latex perfusion microdissection were included in the statistical analysis.The data were clustered and analyzed to find the location of distant and near cutaneous branches, which was called the gathering point of cutaneous branch vascular plexus. Secondly, the measured data of distal and near seg-ments containing cutaneous branches were compared by t-test.Then the distribution of cutaneous branches of posteri-or tibial artery on the tibiofibular side was compared by Chi-square test.It was considered to be significant if P value was under 0.05. Results ①There were 4.3 cutaneous branches raised from the posterior tibial artery.There was no significant difference on the tibial and ribula side distribution of the cutaneous branches from the posterior tibial artery (P＞0.05).②The distal cutaneous branch clusters was located at about 1/5 of the distal leg and there were 3.6 cutaneous branches raised from the posterior tibial artery. While the proximal clusters was located at 1/3 of the proximal leg and there were 0.7 cutaneous branches raised from the posterior tibial artery.There were no significant differences in the di-ameters (P=0.28) and pedicle length (P=0.14) between distal and proximal cutaneous branches. ③There were the large cutaneous perforators (≥1.0) mm from the posterior tibial artery at (6.37±1.22) cm proximal to the medial malleolus.The diameter and pedicle length of the distal perforators were (1.11±0.09) mm and (6.53±1.51) mm respectively.④The vas-cular chains parallel to the posterior tibial artery were formed via anastomosis of the adjacent cutaneous perforators. Conclusion The cutaneous expenditure of posterior tibial artery is constant, with a certain pedicle length and diameter. There are 2 relatively dense vascular plexus of cutaneous branches. The proximal and distal vascular flaps can be de-signed with these 2 vascular dense points as rotation points.
RESUMEN
ObjectiveTo provide anatomy information for harvesting a pedicle or free posterior interosseous artery cutaneous branches-chain flaps. MethodsFourteen forearms from fresh human cadaver were used to study the anatomy characteristics of the posterior interosseous artery cutaneous branches-chain flaps with the following three methods:latex perfusion for microanatomy,denture materials and vinyl chloride mixed packing for cast,and PVA-bismuth oxide perfusion for molybdenum target X-ray arteriography.The cutaneous perforator with a diameter ≥ 0.2 mm were included for statistical analysis.Results① There were 6.2 cutaneous branches raised from posterior interosseous artery. Measuring from the radial edge of ulnar head to the lateral epicondyle of humerus as the standard distance, the distal cutaneous branch clusters located at 21.24％ relative to the standard distance,while the proximal clusters located at 47.86％.② There were two large cutaneous perforators from the posterior interosseous artery at(5.82 ± 1.22)cm proximal to the ulnar styloid and (10.34 ±0.98)cm distal to the epicondyle of humerus.The diameter and pedicle length of the distal perforators were(0.50± 0.04)mm and (16.79 ± 5.12)mm respectively,while the proximal perforator were (0.60 ± 0.08 )mm in diameter with a pedicle (21.20 ± 12.28)mm in length.③ The vascular chains parallel to the posterior interosseous artery were formed via anastomosis of the adjacent cutaneous perforators. ConclusionThere is clinical significance to use pedicle or free posterior interosseous artery cutaneous branches-chain flaps.