Location of communicating veins for medial plantar venous flap.
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.
Yokoyama
Toshiya
T
Service of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Saint-Louis Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Paris VII, France. yokotoshi0712@yahoo.co.jp
Cardaci
Aurelio
A
Hosaka
Yoshiaki
Y
Revol
Marc
M
d'Alcontres
Francesco Stagno
FS
Servant
Jean-Marie
JM
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