Interosseous Recurrent Artery Research Articles

A unique lpsilateral axillary artery variation

In an 87-year-old male cadaver received through the Gift Body Program at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, a common arterial trunk arose from the third part of the left axillary artery (AA) that divided into the subscapular artery (SA) and a common stem for the deep brachial artery (DBA), the anterior humeral circumflex artery (AHCA), and the posterior humeral circumflex artery (PHCA). Both the SA and AHCA appeared normal. The PHCA traveled through the quadrangular space and gave off the radial collateral artery (RCA) in the posterior arm which anastomosed with the radial recurrent artery. The DBA traveled through the triangular interval and continued as the middle collateral artery (MCA) in the posterior arm to anastomose with the interosseous recurrent artery. Lastly, the medial and lateral cord contributions to the median nerve formed posteriorly to the AA. Knowing anatomical variation of the AA has clinical and embryological significance.

Role of Interosseous Recurrent Artery Perforators in the Posterior Interosseous Artery Flap.

The Posterior Interosseous Artery flap is a fasciocutaneous flap based on the Posterior Interosseous artery which lies invested by the fascial septum between the Extensor carpi ulnaris and Extensor Digiti Minimi where it gives off septocutaneous branches that spread out on the deep fascia to form longitudinal fascial arcades as well as supply the deep extensors. The conventional flap based on these perforators is restricted to the middle-thirds of the dorsum of forearm. Preservation of the perforators from the Interosseous Recurrent Artery by proximal ligation of the Interosseous Recurrent Artery and by protecting the index septum prolongation carrying the perforators of IRA can help us to recruit larger tissue in the flap. A total of 20 clinical cases and 10 cadaveric dissections were done to objectively define this technique.

The reverse lateral arm fascial flap in interposition arthroplasty for elbow ankylosis

Interposition arthroplasty for elbow ankylosis is still a practiced surgical procedure in many nations as elbow replacement surgery is yet to be fully established worldwide. For many decades up until today various interposition materials have been used and the jury is still out on the search for the ideal one. We therefore report the surgical technique of the use of the reverse lateral arm fascial flap, which is based on the interosseous recurrent artery, as interposition material following joint release of ankylosed elbow. We recommend that interposition elbow arthroplasty should be done using the reverse lateral arm fascial flap which is easily accessible through the same surgical incision, vascularized and more durable and functional; offers shorter operation time and less donor site morbidity. The use of this material for interposition arthroplasty of the elbow had not been previously reported.

Presentation of the vascular supply of the proximal ulna using a sequential plastination technique.

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the peri- and intraosseous vascular supply of the proximal ulna. Eleven fresh human cadaveric elbows were sequentially plastinated beginning with arterial injection, followed by block and secondary slice plastination of the whole elbow. With this technique, we obtained completely transparent cadaveric slices in which the peri- and intraosseous vascular architecture could be studied. Proximal ulna vascularization is due to an arterial network: a superior and inferior collateral ulnar artery and the profunda brachial artery climbing to the olecranon from proximal. An anterior artery and a posterior recurrent artery climb up distally to the medial parts of the ulna and an interosseous recurrent artery is responsible for the lateral and posterolateral proximal part of the ulna. The intraosseous vascularization is due to directly penetrating branches out of the posterior recurrent ulnar artery and a vascular plexus at the olecranon tip. In addition, we saw a major distal bone penetration branch coming from the recurrent posterior artery, climbing intraosseously without junction to the proximal penetrating branches. The peri- and intraosseous vascularization of the proximal ulna was shown. A transitional zone of the intraosseous vascularization of the proximal ulna was detected.

Foramen for Branch of Interosseous Recurrent Artery on the Supinator Crest of Ulna

A study of the supinator crest of ulna was carried out in 387 dry ulna bones and by dissection of 23 upper extremities of cadavers and a foramen in the supinator crest of ulna was found close to the radial notch in 5.75 of bones. In the cadaveric dissection study it was found that a branch of ‘Interosseous Recurrent Artery’ passed through this foramen of ‘Supinator Crest’. This study is very significant because the existing textbooks of anatomy and available literature do not describe any such foramen or groove of supinator crest through which a branch of interosseous recurrent artery passes.

Arterial vascularization of the proximal extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon.

The macroscopic arterial vascularization of the extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon was investigated in 12 elbows from cadavers to provide fundamental anatomic information of this tendon which has been associated with lateral epicondylitis. The arterial blood supply of the extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon was highly consistent. The radial recurrent artery vascularized the entire proximal tendon through direct branches to the medial and lateral border of the tendon forming a network of small vessels on the surface of the tendon. Important contributions were provided by the posterior branch of the radial collateral artery, and minor contributions were provided by the interosseous recurrent artery. The undersurface of the tendon seemed almost avascular. This observation suggests that potential hypovascular zones might be located at the undersurface of the tendon causing degeneration and partial tear of the tendon, and that this might be an etiologic factor in the pathogenesis of lateral epicondylitis. Additional microvascular studies are necessary to investigate this hypothesis.

The extraosseous and intraosseous arterial anatomy of the adult elbow.

We investigated the extraosseous and intraosseous arterial anatomy of the human adult elbow. Twenty-two fresh adult cadaveric upper extremities were studied with a technique of combined India-ink and latex injection followed by chemical débridement. The intraosseous vascularity of twelve extremities was then evaluated with a rapid Spalteholz clearing technique. Our findings demonstrated consistent patterns of extraosseous and intraosseous vascular anatomy, which were organized into three vascular arcades: medial, lateral, and posterior. The medial arcade was formed by the superior and inferior ulnar collateral arteries and the posterior ulnar recurrent artery. The lateral arcade was formed by the radial and middle collateral, radial recurrent, and interosseous recurrent arteries. The posterior arcade was formed by the medial and lateral arcades and the middle collateral artery. The intraosseous circulation of the elbow, which was segmental in organization, appeared to be dependent on the local blood supply. The capitellum and the lateral aspect of the trochlea were supplied by posterior perforating vessels arising from the radial recurrent, radial collateral, and interosseous recurrent arteries. The medial aspect of the trochlea was supplied by a circumferential vascular ring originating from the inferior ulnar collateral artery. Watershed areas were apparent between the blood supplies to the medial and lateral aspects of the distal end of the humerus. The olecranon was richly supplied by vessels coursing along its medial aspect from the posterior ulnar recurrent artery and along its lateral aspect from the interosseous recurrent artery. The radial head had a dual extraosseous blood supply from a single branch of the radial recurrent artery, which supplied the head directly, and from additional vessels from both the radial and the interosseous recurrent artery, which penetrated the capsular insertion at the neck of the radius. Our findings demonstrate that arterial contributions to the intraosseous circulation of the elbow are more specific than previously appreciated. The intraosseous circulation of the elbow is derived mainly from perforating vessels that arise from neighboring extraosseous arteries. These perforating arteries may be damaged by trauma or by extensile dissection during reconstruction of the elbow. An understanding of the extraosseous and intraosseous circulation of the elbow may help to avoid iatrogenic injury to the intraosseous circulation.

The reverse lateral arm flap, based on the interosseous recurrent artery, for cubital fossa burns

The reverse lateral arm flap based on the interosseous recurrent artery was used successfully to reconstruct cubital fossa defects caused by high voltage electric burn in two cases. The flap is nourished by the septocutaneous perforators of the posterior radial collateral artery which anastomoses around the lateral epicondyle with the interosseous recurrent artery. The primary benefits of this flap are that it is an easy and rapid one-stage procedure, with no necessity of sacrificing a main artery or local muscle, and it requires no immobilisation of the involved joint.