title: Location of communicating veins for medial plantar venous flap.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The medial plantar venous flap is suitable for reconstruction of the palmar surface of the finger. However, it is sometimes difficult to detect and harvest the distal subcutaneous vein of the flap. In such a situation, the communicating vein can be used as a distal vein for the flap. However, the location of these veins is not obvious.
  
  
  METHODS
  By using 20 feet from 10 cadavers and ultrasound imaging for 40 feet from 20 healthy individuals, we investigated the location of communicating veins.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In cadavers, 11 communicating veins (45.8%, n = 24) were located in the area above the abductor hallucis muscle and 12 veins (50%) in the area below it. Ultrasound imaging revealed 15 bifurcations of the communicating veins (31.3%, n = 48) in the upper area and 27 bifurcations in the lower area of the medial plantar region (56.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was observed that the communicating veins were concentrated in the areas above and below the abductor hallucis muscle.
authors.affiliation: Service of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Saint-Louis Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Paris VII, France. yokotoshi0712@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Toshiya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Aurelio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cardaci
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hosaka
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Revol
authors.forename: Francesco Stagno
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: d'Alcontres
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Servant
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005528:Foot / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008683:Metatarsophalangeal Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014680:Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging