[Anatomical study and clinical applications of the posterior tibial artery intermuscular septum branches island flaps].
OBJECTIVE
To report an anatomical basis for the posterior tibial artery intermuscular septum branches island flaps and its clinical value.


METHODS
The origin,course, number, caliber and distribution of the posterior tibial artery intermuscular septum branches were studied in 10 adult cadavers(20 legs). 10 cases of homonymy and opposite side ankle and adjacent soft tissue defects with posterior tibial artery intermuscular septum branches island flaps, aged 20-50 years. Free skin transplantation on the donor sites.


RESULTS
The posterior tibial artery gives off 2-7 intermuscular septum branches. Its external diameter was about 0.4-1.8 mm,and the length was about 0.3-4.5 cm. The area of flaps was 7 cm x 6 cm - 20 cm x 8 cm in the group. All the flaps were survived except 1 with partial necrosis in the distant part(3 cm x 1 cm) of the flap. 7 cases were followed up two months to three years. The color, texture and appearance of the flaps were good.


CONCLUSIONS
The kind of flap has reliable blood supply, the scope of repairing was wide; avoidance of sacrificing the major artery; the flap was easy to be dissected. It was one of the ideal flaps to repair the ankle and adjacent soft tissue defects.
Wei
Zai-rong
ZR
Department of Plastic, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical College, Zunyi 563003, China.
Wang
Yu-ming
YM
Wang
Da-li
DL
Qi
Jian-ping
JP
Han
Wen-jie
WJ
Zeng
Xue-qin
XQ
Nie
Kai-yu
KY
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply; D016909:Tibial Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D055815:Young Adult