title: The microvascular anatomy of the metatarsal bones: a plastination study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to categorize and systematize the arterial supply of the metatarsal bones and furthermore the observation of arterial lesions after frequently performed forefoot surgeries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two cadaver feet were analyzed by two plastination methods and the enzyme maceration method. Five forefoot surgeries were performed after arterial injections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The bases of the metatarsal bones were primarily supplied by dorsal and plantar arteries. The arterial supply of the metatarsal diaphysis was given by a frequently observed nutrient artery. The first plantar metatarsal artery was the main supply of the first metatarsal head. The plantar and dorsal metatarsal arteries supplied the lesser metatarsals heads. The forefoot surgeries revealed lesions of arteries in all cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The plastination methods were excellent methods to analyze the arterial supply. In addition arterial damage after forefoot surgeries could be analyzed with these methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, University of Cologne, Joseph Stelzmann Str. 9, 50931, Cologne, Germany. Bjoern.Rath@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rath
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Notermans
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Franzen
authors.forename: Jutta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Knifka
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walpert
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koebke
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002102:Cadaver; D018483:Diaphyses / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D008682:Metatarsal Bones / Q000098:blood supply*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016613:Plastic Embedding