Anatomy of the proximal cutaneous perforator vessels of the gracilis muscle.

An anatomic study was performed to analyse the proximal perforator vessels of the gracilis musculocutaneous flap. Twenty-three cadaver legs preserved by the method of Thiel were carefully dissected 24h after the proximal vascular pedicle was injected with a red silicone mass. Nine additional cadaver legs were injected with ink, to visualise the skin area supplied by the proximal perforators, respectively, clarified by a modified Spalteholz technique to demonstrate the anatomic course of the perforators. A considerable variation in numbers and localisation of proximal cutaneous perforators was found. One to four perforators were seen within an area of 6 x 6 cm(2) at the entrance of the main pedicle into the proximal gracilis muscle. Their external diameter ranged from 0.5 to 1.0 mm. The ink-injections showed an oval shaped angiosome with a mean surface of 88 cm(2) at the level of the proximal gracilis pedicle. We conclude from this anatomic study, that a cutaneous flap based on the medial circumflex femoral gracilis perforators can be harvested by experienced hands bearing in mind the unpredictable perforator-anatomy.