Burak Kaya1,2, Georg Feigl3,4, Serdal Kenan Kose5, Nihal Apaydin6,7,8. 1. Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Reconstructive Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey. kayaburak@gmail.com. 2. Medical Design Application and Research Center (MEDITAM), Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey. kayaburak@gmail.com. 3. Institute of Anatomy and Clinical Morphology, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany. 4. Institute of Macroscopic and Clinical Anatomy, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria. 5. Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey. 6. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey. 7. Department of Multidisciplinary Neuroscience, Institute of Health Sciences, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey. 8. Brain Research Center (AU-BAUM), Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
Abstract
PURPOSE: There are few studies searching for possible perforator flap donor sites on the arm. This study aimed to identify the locations of cutaneous perforators of the arm according to anatomical landmarks. METHODS: Thirteen Thiel-fixed and latex-filled upper extremities of bodies donated to science were used. The distance between the acromion and medial or lateral epicondyle of the humerus was defined as the Y-axis, and the axis that cut the Y-axis perpendicularly through the epicondyles of the humerus was identified as the X-axis. The Y-axis was then divided into three parts Cutaneous arterial perforators were found using surgical dissection. The locations of the perforators were determined according to the defined lines and regions. RESULTS: On the lateral side, there were 6.00 ± 2.08 perforators per arm, of which 56.4% were septocutaneous and 43.6% muscular. In all extremities, with in the distal 1/3 of the lateral arm, there were 1-4 radial collateral artery-based perforators. The mean distance of these perforators to the Y-axis was 1.16 ± 0.53 cm. On the medial side, there were 5.05 ± 1.44 perforators per arm, which were all septocutaneous perforators. In 85% of the extremities, within the middle 1/3 of the medial arms, there were 1-2 superior ulnar collateral artery-based perforators. The mean distance of these perforators to the Y-axis was 1.53 ± 0.61 cm. CONCLUSION: There are always perforators from the radial collateral artery with in the distal third of the lateral arm. Within the middle third of the medial arm, it is usually possible to find a perforator from the superior ulnar collateral artery.
PURPOSE: There are few studies searching for possible perforator flap donor sites on the arm. This study aimed to identify the locations of cutaneous perforators of the arm according to anatomical landmarks. METHODS: Thirteen Thiel-fixed and latex-filled upper extremities of bodies donated to science were used. The distance between the acromion and medial or lateral epicondyle of the humerus was defined as the Y-axis, and the axis that cut the Y-axis perpendicularly through the epicondyles of the humerus was identified as the X-axis. The Y-axis was then divided into three parts Cutaneous arterial perforators were found using surgical dissection. The locations of the perforators were determined according to the defined lines and regions. RESULTS: On the lateral side, there were 6.00 ± 2.08 perforators per arm, of which 56.4% were septocutaneous and 43.6% muscular. In all extremities, with in the distal 1/3 of the lateral arm, there were 1-4 radial collateral artery-based perforators. The mean distance of these perforators to the Y-axis was 1.16 ± 0.53 cm. On the medial side, there were 5.05 ± 1.44 perforators per arm, which were all septocutaneous perforators. In 85% of the extremities, within the middle 1/3 of the medial arms, there were 1-2 superior ulnar collateral artery-based perforators. The mean distance of these perforators to the Y-axis was 1.53 ± 0.61 cm. CONCLUSION: There are always perforators from the radial collateral artery with in the distal third of the lateral arm. Within the middle third of the medial arm, it is usually possible to find a perforator from the superior ulnar collateral artery.