Digital artery diameters: an anatomic and clinical study.

This study measured the diameter of the arteries at the level of the diaphysis of the proximal phalanges of the index, long, ring, and small fingers. We measured the diameter of the vessel on ten normal arteriograms and on six amputated specimens. The larger vessel was usually on the ulnar border of the index and long fingers and on the radial border of the ring and small fingers. By the Hagen-Poiseuille equation, we assume that the larger vessel has the greater flow and, therefore, represents the dominant vessel to the digit. This observation may have clinical relevance in the reimplantation and revascularization of digits.