Vascular anatomy of the dorsum of the foot.

Abstract

The authors' purpose was to study the anatomy of the dorsum of the foot and determine the distribution and caliber of all vascular branches that nourish the skin and the extensor hallucis longus and extensor digitorum longus tendons. The authors performed 20 cadaver dissections. The skin paddle was designed within the dorsum of the foot. Dissection continued until all vascular branches that nourished the skin and tendons were identified. The authors measured the caliber of the vascular connections and the distance to the proximal end of the extensor retinaculum. The dorsalis pedis artery was the continuation of the anterior tibial artery in all cases. A mean of five cutaneous perforators irrigated the cutaneous paddle with a mean caliber of 0.53 mm. The paratenon of the extensor hallucis longus tendon was vascularized by a mean of 8.1 vascular branches with a mean diameter of 0.71 mm. The paratenon of the extensor digitorum longus tendon was nourished by a mean of 5.4 vascular branches, and the mean caliber of those branches was 0.65 mm. The dorsum of the foot presents a constant vascular anatomy that is well suited for the elevation of different types of compound flaps which, in turn, would adapt to the needs of the defect.