title: A systematic review and pooled analysis of peroneal artery perforators for fibula osteocutaneous and perforator flaps.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the availability of cadaveric, anatomic, and clinical models to identify peroneal artery perforators in the lower leg, there is no consensus on the optimal fibula interval to reliably capture perforators for flap and skin paddle design.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review of the MEDLINE and Cochrane databases was performed to identify all anatomical, clinical, and radiographic reports of peroneal artery perforators in the lower leg. Locations were indexed along tenths of the total fibula length to incorporate a uniform format.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three clinical and six cadaveric reports identified 445 legs and 1710 perforators. The 0.6 interval had the greatest total perforator frequency at 19.1 ± 1 percent, with 310 perforators and a positive probability of 79.1 ± 2.1 percent. Chi-square analysis found a statistical difference in perforator frequency at the flanking intervals of 0.5 and 0.8 (p = 0.0058 and p = 0.0019) and beyond. Subgroup analysis of septocutaneous perforators was based on 345 legs and 608 perforators. The 0.6 interval was the densest, with 110 perforators and a frequency of 18.1 ± 1.6 percent. The musculocutaneous subgroup analysis found 292 legs and 831 perforators, and a densest interval at 0.4, based on 157 perforators and a frequency of 18.9 ± 1.4 percent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This systematic review and pooled analysis of all available and complete peroneal artery perforator data demonstrates clustering over the 0.6 interval of the lateral leg. This interval should be considered during flap design and elevation to reliably capture irrigating perforators for free and local flap applications.
authors.affiliation: Washington, D.C. From the Department of Plastic Surgery, Georgetown University Hospital, and the Division of Plastic Surgery, George Washington University Hospital.
authors.forename: Matthew L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Iorio
authors.forename: Meera
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cheerharan
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olding
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005360:Fibula / Q000098:blood supply*; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D061525:Perforator Flap / Q000098:blood supply*; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*