Biomedical Research

Objective: To provide a more detailed anatomical and clinical application basis for digital artery perforator flaps of the middle phalange.

Methods: 5 ten adult cadaveric (10 hand specimens) hand specimens from adult cadavers hand specimens were used chosen from December 2012 to March 2013. The dorsal branches of middle phalange digital artery and arterialy area of the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger were observed with microanatomically by under microscopically. Images were obtained taking pictures with a high-resolution camera, measurement and analysis of the with PhotoshopCS4 software, the branch point position, angle, length, number of small branches, and anastomoses were observed, and observed data was gotten.

Results: The starting point mean outer diameter of dorsal branches of the middle phalange digital artery of index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger was ≥ 0.30 mm, and the end mean outer diameter was ≥ 0.20 mm. The starting point mean outer diameter of the little finger was ≥ 0.25 mm, and the end mean outer diameter was ≥ 0.10 mm. There were 2-5 small branches, with a 53.5 ± 10.5º mean arterial angle.

Conclusion: Flap retrograde or antegrade anatomical structures of middle phalange digital artery’s dorsal branches were fixed, easy, and fast to operate. This method appears ideal to repair the digital dorsal defect of proximal interphalangeal joints, finger pulp defect of the middle phalange, and fingertip and pulp defect of the distal phalange.

Author(s): Kong Qiao, Aiming Guo, Zhiqiang Wu, Jianwei Wang, Shang Gao, Zhiqiang Chang, Yong Zhu
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