The Doppler probe for planning septofasciocutaneous advancement flaps on the plantar aspect of the foot: anatomical study and clinical applications.

Abstract

A 5-MHz Doppler probe was utilized to identify the perforating septofasciocutaneous vessels on the plantar aspect of the right and left feet of 10 healthy subjects. Each audible perforator was marked, and each foot was photographed, scanned into a personal computer, and standardized to 8 inches high by 4 inches wide. All 20 feet were then stacked together to create a composite average of all markings. Loupe aided (2.5 x magnification) dissection of a latex cast of the perforating septofasciocutaneous vessels from a fresh frozen cadaveric foot revealed similar location and distribution as the composite average described above. The Doppler probe is capable of accurately identifying the septofasciocutaneous perforating vessels, thereby, creating a vascular map of the plantar aspect of the foot useful for precise planning of advancement flap coverage for full thickness defects. Two representative case examples are presented.