A simplification for harvesting medial plantar venous flap with communicating veins: usefulness of preoperative ultrasound imaging.

Abstract

The medial plantar venous flap is ideally suited for reconstruction of injuries to the palmar surface of the finger. However, when the distal veins of such flaps are narrow, harvesting is no longer simple and anastomosis to the digital artery presents a challenge. Using ultrasound imaging, we investigated the presence or absence of communicating veins in the medial plantar region in 40 feet of 20 healthy individuals. In addition, we performed preoperative ultrasound imaging in 8 patients. The investigation in healthy individuals revealed a mean number of 1.2 communicating veins in the medial plantar region. Communicating veins were confirmed preoperatively in 6 of our 8 patients. Preoperative ultrasound imaging to investigate the course and diameter of subcutaneous veins and communicating veins in the medial plantar region allows the flap design to be determined appropriately and for the surgery to proceed more simply.