Analysis of Vascular Anatomy in Inferiorly Based Gastrocnemius Muscle Flaps in Japanese Individuals Using a Cadaver Study.

ABSTRACT: Inferiorly based gastrocnemius muscle flaps have been successfully used to cover soft tissue defects of the middle third of the leg. This is done especially in older patients or patients with major complications where operative time should be limited. We aimed to determine the gastrocnemius muscle length that can be safely used for preparing inferiorly based muscle flaps.

Methods

We performed angiographies and dissection to investigate the numbers and distribution of the communicating arterial branches between the medial and lateral heads of the gastrocnemius muscle, and the perforating arterial branches of the medial sural artery from the soleus to the gastrocnemius muscles on 18 legs of preserved cadavers.

Results

The lengths of the gastrocnemius heads were approximately 10

SUBMITTER: Ebisudani S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7722601 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature