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Measurement and analysis of the perforator arteries in upper extremity for the flap design

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to provide the anatomical basis for the skin flap pedicled with the nutrient vessels of the cutaneous nerves and cutaneous veins of the upper extremity. Radio-opaque material was injected into the common carotid arteries of five fresh cadavers. The skin and the fascia were meticulously dissected, removed, and radiographed. The Photoshop CS and Scion image 4.02 were used to analyze the cutaneous arteries, the density of vessels, and the vascular territories of the perforator arteries. The results showed that the cutaneous arteries of the upper extremity came from 16 original arteries, and accordingly, the superficial tissue of the upper extremity could be divided into 16 vascular territories. The external diameter and the area of blood supply of each perforator were growing downwards from the proximum to the distal end. But the points at which the perforator arteries came out from the deep tissue were concentrated near the cutaneous nerves and cutaneous veins, and the arteries formed vascular chains. The density of the arteries near the cutaneous nerves and cutaneous veins was much higher than that of other areas. This article discussed the regularity of the nutrient vessels of the cutaneous nerves and veins on the basis of the experimental results.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (07JJ6161), and we would like to thank Madam Mei-mei Chen for checking the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Southern Medical University, 510515, Guangzhou, China

    Sheng-hua Chen, Da-chuan Xu, Hong-mei Ding & Wei-chao Sheng

  2. Department of Anatomy, University of South China, 421001, Hengyang, China

    Sheng-hua Chen, Hong-mei Ding & Tian-hong Peng

  3. Department of Anatomy, Wenzhou Medical University, 325035, Wenzhou, China

    Mao-lin Tang

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  1. Sheng-hua Chen
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  2. Da-chuan Xu
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  3. Mao-lin Tang
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  4. Hong-mei Ding
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Correspondence to Da-chuan Xu.

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Chen, Sh., Xu, Dc., Tang, Ml. et al. Measurement and analysis of the perforator arteries in upper extremity for the flap design. Surg Radiol Anat 31, 687–693 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-009-0505-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-009-0505-z

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