Applied anatomy for the flap based on the medial plantar artery of the hallux and included the nutritional arteries of the vein on the medial aspect of the foot

Abstract

Objective To provide anatomic basis for the reconstruction of soft tissue defect of forefoot through investigation of the morphological features of the flap based on arteries of medial part of hallux as the nutritional arteries for the veins in the medial aspect of the foot. Methods Thirty specimens of adult human feet perfused with red latex were used. The following contents were observed under surgical magnifier: the courses, distribution of the vein of the medial border of foot; the anastomoses among the perforator of the arteries of medial partof hallux and nutritional blood arteries of veins in the the medial aspect of foot. Mimic operation was performed on another fresh specimen. Results The vein of the medial border of foot adjacent to the first metatarsal bone was formed by the convergence of the dorsal venous arch and the vein on the medial side of the hallux. It continued as the great saphenous vein adjacent to malleolus medialis. The diameter in the intermalleolar line in was (3.2±0.5)mm. The nutritional arteries for the vein in the medial aspect of the vein derived form multiple sources, among which the medial plantar artery of the hallux was relatively consistent in position. It was located (2.3±0.2) cm proximal to the first interphalangeal joint of the foot, emerging superficially between the tendon of the abductor muscle and the first metatarsal bone, giving off minute branches to anastomose with nutritional arteries of the vein from other sources. Conclusions The flap based on the medial plantar artery of the hallux and included the nutritional arteries of the vein on the medial aspect of the foot can be harvested to repair the defect of soft tissue on forefoot. Key words: Surgical flap; Medial plantar artery of hallux; The nutritional blood arteries of the vein; Defects of forefoot; Repair