The Morphological Study of the Dorsalis Pedic Artery and the Vascular Pedicles of the Latissimus Dorsi for Clinical Application

The free flap and myocutaneous flap transfer by microvascular anastomosis has been developed recently for wide employment in reconstructive surgery and has been used in many clinical applications.

The anatomy of the flap and the specific size, pattern and location of the vessel are important in the wide and varied reconstructive applications of the flap. The mean length and diameter were measured and the course and variation of the dorsalis pedis artery and adjacent area were studied in 44 dissections using 22 Korean cadavers and the vascular pedicles in the latissimus dorsi and adjacent area in 18 dissections using 9 Korean cadavers.

The results are summerized as follows:

1) The mean diameter of the dorsalis pedis artery on the upper limit of the extensor retinaculum is 2.9mm and the mean length of the vascular pedicle from the 1st web space is 13.5cm.

2) The mean diameter of the 1st dorsal metatarsal artery is 1.5mm and the mean length of the vascular pedicle from the 1st web space is 4.5cm.

3) The mean diameter of the thoracodorsal artery and vein before distribution to the latissimus dorsi are 2.1mm and 2.2mm and the mean length of the vascular pedicle from the axillary artery and vein before distribution to the latissimus dorsi is 11.9cm.

4) In the couse and variation of the dorsalis pedis artery, type I, 77%, normal course of the dorsalis pedis artery is most common.

5) There are consistent T-shaped relationship among subscapular, thoracodorsal, circumflex scapular arteries and serratus arterial branch.

6) Vascular structures at the latissimus dorsi are bifurcated into lateral and medial intramuscular bundles.