Vascular anatomy of the dorsum of the foot.
BACKGROUND
The authors' purpose was to study the anatomy of the dorsum of the foot and determine the distribution and caliber of all vascular branches that nourish the skin and the extensor hallucis longus and extensor digitorum longus tendons.


METHODS
The authors performed 20 cadaver dissections. The skin paddle was designed within the dorsum of the foot. Dissection continued until all vascular branches that nourished the skin and tendons were identified. The authors measured the caliber of the vascular connections and the distance to the proximal end of the extensor retinaculum.


RESULTS
The dorsalis pedis artery was the continuation of the anterior tibial artery in all cases. A mean of five cutaneous perforators irrigated the cutaneous paddle with a mean caliber of 0.53 mm. The paratenon of the extensor hallucis longus tendon was vascularized by a mean of 8.1 vascular branches with a mean diameter of 0.71 mm. The paratenon of the extensor digitorum longus tendon was nourished by a mean of 5.4 vascular branches, and the mean caliber of those branches was 0.65 mm.


CONCLUSIONS
The dorsum of the foot presents a constant vascular anatomy that is well suited for the elevation of different types of compound flaps which, in turn, would adapt to the needs of the defect.
Madrid and Alicante, Spain From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ramon y Cajal Hospital, and the Department of Histology and Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Miguel Hernandez University.
Ruben
R
Garcia-Pumarino
Eduardo
E
Moraleda
Ander
A
Aburto
Jesus A
JA
Barros
Lawrence
L
Garro
José F
JF
Salvador
Francisco
F
Sanchez
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005545:Forefoot, Human / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D055806:Microvessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D013710:Tendons / Q000098:blood supply*; D016909:Tibial Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology