A simplification for harvesting medial plantar venous flap with communicating veins: usefulness of preoperative ultrasound imaging.
BACKGROUND
The medial plantar venous flap is ideally suited for reconstruction of injuries to the palmar surface of the finger. However, when the distal veins of such flaps are narrow, harvesting is no longer simple and anastomosis to the digital artery presents a challenge.


METHODS
Using ultrasound imaging, we investigated the presence or absence of communicating veins in the medial plantar region in 40 feet of 20 healthy individuals. In addition, we performed preoperative ultrasound imaging in 8 patients.


RESULTS
The investigation in healthy individuals revealed a mean number of 1.2 communicating veins in the medial plantar region. Communicating veins were confirmed preoperatively in 6 of our 8 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative ultrasound imaging to investigate the course and diameter of subcutaneous veins and communicating veins in the medial plantar region allows the flap design to be determined appropriately and for the surgery to proceed more simply.
Yokoyama
Toshiya
T
Service of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Saint-Louis Hospital, Paris, France. yokotoshi0712@yahoo.co.jp
Hosaka
Yoshiaki
Y
Servant
Jean-Marie
JM
Takagi
Shinsuke
S
Cardaci
Aurelio
A
D000328:Adult; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005528:Foot / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color