Anatomical study of ulnar artery perforators in the forearm

ABSTRACT

To describe the perforators of the ulnar artery, determining their sites of origin and measurements. Thirty two upper extremities from preserved cadavers and stillborns were injected with red latex, dissected and studied. The perforators arising from the anterior and posterior ulnar recurrent arteries ramified in the adipofascial tissue on the medial side of the elbow. Perforators taking origin from the posterior interosseous artery ramified in the adipofascial tissue on the back of the forearm. The musculocutaneous and the fasciocutaneous perforators arising from the lower 2/3 of the ulnar artery branched in the adipofascial tissue on the medial side of the forearm. One of these fasciocutaneous perforators was constantly accompanied by the dorsal branch of the ulnar nerve. It ramified in the adipofascial tissue on the medial side of the back of the distal forearm. The lengths and the external diameters of the branches of the ulnar artery were measured and their origins were determined. A constant and relatively long perforator arising from the lower third of the ulnar artery was found in all specimens. Based on this potentially long perforator, the arc of rotation of its flap can be increased freely