Anatomical consideration of vascularized bone graft transfer from the medial calcaneus to the talus.

To investigate the possibility of use of the calcaneal branches of the posterior tibial artery as the pedicle for the vascularized bone graft to the talus, a detailed anatomical study was carried out on 30 fresh cadaver feet. Although there are several branches from the posterior tibial artery to the calcaneus, the largest posterior branch was defined as the main calcaneal branch. We recognized frequently a large branch nourishing the superior part of the calcaneus and named it the superior calcaneal branch. Twenty feet had the superior calcaneal branches. Pedicled bone grafts using the superior calcaneal branch to the postero-medial portion of the talar body were possible in 18 of 20 feet. Pedicled bone grafts using the main calcaneal branches were possible in 9 of 12 feet in which the superior calcaneal branches were not available. Finally, vascularized bone grafts were judged to be feasible in 27 feet (90%). Copyright 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.