The dorsalis pedis flap is one of the most commonly used foot flaps in traffic accidents, electrical burns, industrial injury, ulcer etc. The dorsalis pedis artery is best for pedal revascularization since it is the largest artery distal to the ankle joint 5. There are reports of lateral deviation and bifurcation of the dorsalis pedis artery 4. Sometimes an enlarged perforating branch of peroneal artery continues as dorsalis pedis artery 2, 3. The artery may be larger than the normal to compensate small lateral plantar artery. It runs on the dorsum of foot anteriorly over the dorsal aspect of the talus, navicular and intermediate cuneiform bones till the proximal end of the first dorsal intermetatarsal space and passes inferiorly as the deep plantar artery between the heads of the first dorsal interosseous muscle to complete the plantar arch in the sole of foot with the lateral plantar branch of posterior tibial artery.Ĭutaneous branches to the medial side of the dorsum of foot. Dorsalis pedis artery begins in front of the ankle joint midway between the malleoli as a continuation of the anterior tibial artery. Posterior tibial artery descends down in the posterior compartment and supplies both posterior and lateral compartments of leg and sole of foot. Anterior tibial artery enters anterior compartment through the upper opening in the interosseous membrane and supplies anterior compartment and dorsum of foot. Popliteal artery is the main artery which supplies the leg and foot by its branches-anterior and posterior tibial arteries. Knowledge about the arterial variations around the ankle is important to orthopaedic, vascular surgeons and radiologists to prevent complications during surgical interventions. In 13 specimens we noted variations, includes bilateral anomalous origin of dorsalis pedis artery, bilateral lateral deviation of dorsalis pedis artery, double dorsalis pedis artery, trifurcation of dorsalis pedis artery and absence of arcuate artery. Normal anatomic description was found in 27 limbs.
During routine dissection of lower limbs for undergraduates we came across rare variations in the dorsalis pedis artery in its origin, course and branching pattern. Aim of the present study is to observe the variations in origin, course and branching pattern of dorsalis pedis artery because of its clinical significance. Absence of dorsalis pedis arterial pulse does not indicate peripheral arterial disease always as it is sometimes replaced by the enlarged perforating branch of peroneal artery, it may be absent or very thin, deviate laterally on the dorsum of foot.
But arterial variations in lower limbs are common due to rich distal anastomoses around the ankle joint. Dorsalis pedis artery is a direct extension from the anterior tibial artery and major vascular supply for the dorsum of the foot. Pulsations of the dorsalis pedis artery are commonly used to evaluate the peripheral arterial diseases like thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) or Buerger’s disease, in lower limbs.
0 kommentar(er)
