Anatomical basis of the flap based on the perforator of plantar arch / 中华显微外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To provide the anatomical basis for the flap based on the perforator of Plantar arch,through investigation of the morphological features of the perforator of the arch of the foot.Methods From November,2015 to March,2016,the first metatarsal base and the fifth metatarsal tuberosity were chosen as the observation point on 25 specimens of adult human feet perfused with red latex.The following contents were observed under surgical magnifier①The origin,courses,branches and distribution of the perforator of Plantar arch.②The anastomoses among the perforator of Plantar arch and the fete arteriosum dorsale pedis.Mimic operation was performed on another fresh specimen perfused with red latex.Results There were 3 perforators in Plantar arch,which passed through the 2nd-4th metatarsal dorsal muscles to the dorsi pedis and then divided into an ascending branch and a descending branch.The ascending branch anastomosed with the rete arteriosum dorsale pedis,and the descending branch stretched to the 2nd-4th plantar arteries.The initiative outer diameters of the 1st-3rd dorsal perforators of Plantar arch were (1.5 ± 0.3)mm,(1.1 ± 0.4) mm and (0.9-± 0.3) mm respectively,and the lengths of the stem were (1.1 ± 0.2) cm,(1.5 ± 0.1) cm and (1.5 ± 0.5) cm respectively.Conclusion The flap can be used for repair of soft-tissue defects of dorsal and front foot through dorsal transposition or a V-Y advancing flap with the perforator of Plantar arch as its vascular pedicle.