Anatomical study of the brachioradialis muscle flap

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out on twenty-two upper extremities from the Anatomy Department. Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, after injection of the brachial artery with red latex to study the vascular anatomy of the brachioradialis muscle. It was found that the major vascular pedicle to the brachioradialis muscle was a branch from the radial recurrent artery in 13 upper extremities [59%], from radial artery and un 5 extremities [22.7%] and from the brachial artery in 4 extremities [18.2%]. In 59% of upper extremities where the radial recurrent artery was the major vascular pedicle, it arose 3.56 +/- 0.76 cm distal to the lateral epicondyle. In 22.7% of upper extremities, the major vascular pedicle was a branch from the radial artery, it arose 2.4 +/- 1.43 cm distal to the lateral epicondyle. In the remaining 18.2%, the major vascular pedicle was a branch from the brachial artery, it arose 2.08 +/- 0.44 cm proximal to the lateral epicondyle. In each upper extremity, several pedicles [4 - 7] were seen arising from the radial artery. They were distributed throughout the muscle's length