title: Anatomical Study of the Princeps Pollicis Artery Perforator Flap.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The volar aspect of the thumb often requires local flaps for reconstruction. This study characterizes perforators of the princeps pollicis artery (PPA) and evaluates the potential of a local propeller-type flap raised using these perforators for reconstruction of these defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cadavers underwent whole-body lead-oxide injection and were then imaged using a 64-slice spiral computed tomographic scanner. The DICOM images were imported into Materialise's Interactive Medical Imaging Control System (Materialise, Belgium) for 3-dimensional reconstruction of the microvasculature. The number, length, caliber, and location of perforators arising from the PPA were determined and a plot was generated illustrating the relative distribution of perforators.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 16 PPA perforators were identified in the 8 specimen hands. Perforators had a mean (SD) diameter of 1.2 (0.4) mm and mean (SD) length of 8.9 (4.8) mm. The PPA perforators were consistently identified along the radial aspect of the thenar region. Seventy percent of all PPA perforators can be found over the distal 50% of the MC [20%-54%; mean (1SD)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perforators of the PPA were found in all hands and the average caliber and length of the perforators identified is sufficient for the creation of a local perforator flap. This, coupled with the mean location of these perforators, arising near the base of the thumb, confirms that a cutaneous flap from the thenar region can be raised based on this perforator as a propeller flap to obtain coverage of distal cutaneous defects of the thumb.
authors: From the Division of Plastic Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors: Ammar
authors: A
authors: Al-Dhamin
authors: Joel
authors: J
authors: Cox
authors: Mary Beth
authors: MB
authors: Bissell
authors: Alejandro
authors: A
authors: Marciel-Miranda
authors: Steven F
authors: SF
authors: Morris
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000072226:Computed Tomography Angiography / Q000379:methods; D006225:Hand / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D055806:Microvessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D061525:Perforator Flap / Q000098:blood supply*; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed