[The design of inferior rectus abdominis flap and its study of applied anatomy].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the anatomy of inferior epigastric artery and its correlation with rectus abdominis muscle in order to provide anatomical basis for reconstruction of defect in the oral and maxillofacial region.


METHODS
10 Chinese adult specimens fixed by 10% formalin were simulated for the design of inferior rectus abdominis flap, and then observing, taking a photograph during the cadavers were being operated and measuring by image analysis software in the end.


RESULTS
The original external diameters of inferior epigastric artery and length of its trunk were (2.58 +/- 0.60) mm and (85.87 +/- 14.90) mm respectively. Its perforators distribute intensively toward hilum.


CONCLUSIONS
Whether rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap or deep inferior epigastric perforator flap adapts to reconstruct the defect of oral and maxillofacial region due to invariable traveling of inferior epigastric artery and its wide original external diameters relatively.
Wang
Wei-Hong
WH
Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Kunming Medical College, Kunming 650031, China.
Zou
Zhi-Rong
ZR
Liu
Zong-Liang
ZL
Mou
Xiang-Xin
XX
Li
Guo-Mim
GM
Xu
Biao
B
D000328:Adult; D002102:Cadaver; D019074:Epigastric Arteries; D006801:Humans; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D017568:Rectus Abdominis; D013524:Surgical Flaps