title: The lateral calcaneal artery as an alternative recipient vessel option for heel and lateral foot reconstruction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical outcomes of consecutive use of the lateral calcaneal artery (LCA) as a recipient vessel for microsurgical reconstruction have not been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of the LCA as a recipient vessel for microsurgical foot reconstruction based on anatomical study of CT angiography and clinical results of using this vessel as the recipient.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anatomic study was performed using CT angiography of 61 lower extremities (31 patients). The emerging point, course, and diameter of the LCA were evaluated using 3-D reconstructed images. The LCA was used as the recipient artery in 17 consecutive patients with a mean age of 59 years (range: 23-77 years). Thoracodorsal artery perforator flap was used in most cases (16 of 17), and clinical outcomes were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The LCA emerged 31.1 ± 9.8 mm proximal and 14.7 ± 5.0 mm posterior to the tip of the fibula and traversed 13.9 ± 2.7 mm posterior to the posterior margin of the lateral malleolus. The accompanying vein was used for venous outflow in five patients and the small saphenous vein was used in the remaining cases. Emergent re-operation was performed in one case due to venous thrombosis, and salvage was successful. All flaps except for one with partial flap necrosis completely survived. During a mean follow-up of 13 months, all but one of the patients were able to wear shoes and walk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The LCA may be safely used as a recipient vessel for microsurgical heel and lateral foot reconstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  IV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.|Department of Plastic Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Ilwon-dong 50, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-710, S. Korea.
authors.forename: Kyong-Je
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Ilwon-dong 50, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-710, S. Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Ilwon-dong 50, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-710, S. Korea.
authors.forename: Goo-Hyun
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Mun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000098:blood supply; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000072226:Computed Tomography Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D006365:Heel / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D061525:Perforator Flap / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000637:transplantation; D011379:Prognosis; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult