Micradissection of distal antebrachial arterial perforators of dorsal forearm and design of flap pedicled with nutrient vessels of posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve

Fahui ZHANG; Heping ZHENG; Guodong ZHANG

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Posterior antebrachial skin is beneficial for repairing injury of dorsum of hand; however, according to lacking operative researches on distal pedicel arterial perforators of posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve nutrient vessel flap, it is still a confusing problem in clinic.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the features of distal antebrachial arterial perforators of dorsal forearm and provide anatomical theories for suitable designing pedicle flap and compound flap at distal flap pedicled with nutrient vessels of posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve.

DESIGN:

Single sample observation.

SETTING:

Researching Center of Clinical Anatomy, Military Institute of Orthopaedics, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Area Command of Chinese PLA.MATERIAL5 The experiment was carried out at the Researching Center of Clinical Anatomy, Military Institute of Orthopaedics, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Area Command of Chinese PLA from May to October, 2004. Thirty-three upper limbs of adult cadavers perfused with red latex through arteries were provided by Researching Center of Clinical Anatomy, Military Institute of Orthopaedics, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Area Command of PLA.

METHODS:

Thirty-three adults upper limbs were dissected and observed with microscope with taking rhe styloid process of ulna and radius as pivot point.MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

① Distal antebrachial arterial perforators of dorsal forearm; ② nutrient vessels of distal posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve; ③ their blood supply relationship with nearby muscle, bone and skin.

RESULTS:

① Along extensor digitorum communis muscle, distal antebrachial arterial perforators of dorsal forearm were perforated along bilateral muscular interspace and tendon interspace to form lateral and interior inosculated vascular plexuses of fascia. The axis of lateral muscle interspace, dorsal antebrachial lateral vascular plexuses consisted of lateral branch of dorsal carpal branch of anterior interosseous artery, radial interosseous cutaneous perforators, radial interosseous cutaneous perforators of posterior interosseous artery, carpal dorsal branch of radial artery and its perforators. The axis of medial muscle interspace, dorsal antebrachial medial vascular plexuses was consisted of medial branch of dorsal carpal branch of anterior interosseous artery, ulnaris interosseous cutaneous perforators, ulnaris interosseous cutaneous perforators of posterior interosseous artery, carpal dorsal branch of ulnaris artery and its perforators. ②Above mentioned arterial perforators sent out cutaneous branches, fascia branches and posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve nutrient vessel to form vascular chain of cutaneous nerve stem and vascular nets of deep and superficial fascia.Muscle-periosteum branches of posterior interosseous artery had some ulnar periostea whose radial interosseous cutaneous perforators were anastoimosed with periosteum vessels in the middle and inferior segments of radius; therefore,there was an anatomic basis for distal pedicele compound flap.

CONCLUSION:

Blood supply of distal antebrachial arterial perforators of dorsal forearm is characterized by multiple sources, obviously longitudinal distribution and homologous nutrient vessel; therefore, there are three blood-supplied distal pedicled flap or compound flap of posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve nutrient vessel. Rotation point of distal pediclde flap can reach wrist joint, and the compound flap can be applied in repairing the injury of distal tissue of hand.