title: [Improved method of obtaining medial plantar cutaneous graft and its clinical application].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To introduce a skin flap containing the middle cutaneous branch of the medial plantar artery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Microanatomic study was performed on 8 fresh cadaveric feet, the arteries were dissected and infused with methylene blue to observe their vascular distribution and the skin area supplied by the middle cutaneous branch. Furthermore, the clinical application was reported. A local pedicled flap containing the middle cutaneous branch was used to repair the soft tissue defects of the foot in 7 patients, and free cutaneous graft was used to repair the skin defects of the fingers in 6 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the medical plantar artery gave off 3 cutaneous branches to supply the medial aspect of the foot, among which the middle branch was the largest one and anastomosed with the other two branches. The skin flaps used clinically were all survived completely.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medial plantar cutaneous graft had a reliable blood supply, and it's one of the best choice in repairing small to middle sized skin defects of the foot and the fingers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Microsurgery, Hainan Provincial Hispital, Haikou, Hainan, P. R. China 570311.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply; D013524:Surgical Flaps