Vasculature anatomy in medial foot and its clinical application in foot and ankle reconstruction

Abstract

Objective To investigate anatomical characteristics of the medial foot vessels and effects of different vascular pedicle skin flaps in repair of foot and ankle trauma.Methods Thirty adult cadaveric lower limbs were injected with red latex through the popliteal artery and posterior tibial artery to anatomically observe the cutaneous arterial origin,branches,distribution and anastomosis of the medial foot.Then,anterior medial malleolar artery perforator flaps and distally-based medial foot flaps were harvested and used for repairing foot and ankle trauma of 16 patients.Results The origin of cutaneous blood vessels of the medial foot was diversified and mainly included the anterior medial malleolar artery,medial tarsal artery,and arterial arcades anastomosing with anterior posterior branches of the two former arteries and the superficial branches of plantar digital artery and the medial plantar artery.According to distribution area of the anterior medial malleolar artery and the medial tarsal artery,the vascular anatomy of the medial foot skin was classified into three types.Clinically,all the flaps survived.Follow-up ranged from 2 weeks to 20 months,which showed normal color,good shape and good pain and warm sensation of the flaps.Conclusion The anterior medial malleolar artery perforator flaps present good reconstruction of soft tissue defects around the ankle,whereas the distally-based medial foot flaps present good reconstruction of soft tissue defects of the mid-forefoot. Key words: Foot injuries; Ankle injuries; Surgical flaps; Vascular anatomy