Anatomical Study of Superficial Peroneal Nerve Accessory Artery and Perforators in the Anterior Intermuscular Septum of Lower Leg Using Cadaveric Dissection.

Kim, Jun Sik; Shin, Sang Ho; Choi, Tae Hyun; Lee, Kyung Suk; Kim, Nam Gyun

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons 2006;33(6):695-699.
Published online November 1, 2006.

Anatomical Study of Superficial Peroneal Nerve Accessory Artery and Perforators in the Anterior Intermuscular Septum of Lower Leg Using Cadaveric Dissection.

Jun Sik Kim, Sang Ho Shin, Tae Hyun Choi, Kyung Suk Lee, Nam Gyun Kim

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Hospital, Gyeongsang National University, Junju, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea. psthchoi@hanmail.net

Abstract

PURPOSE
In the 1990s, skin island flap supplied by the vascular axis of the sensitive superficial nerves had been introduced. For example, neurocutaneous flaps supplied by the vascular axis of the sural nerve and saphenous nerve have been used. But the flap supplied by the vascular axis of superficial peroneal nerve has not been used commonly. Because there have been few anatomical reports about the superficial peroneal nerve accessory artery(SPNAA), we could not apply the neurocutaneous flap supplied by SPNAA. The aim of this study is to investigate the anatomy of SPNAA, number and location of its perforators, and septocutaneous perforators from the anterior tibial artery in anterior intermuscular septum. METHODS: So, we dissected a total of eight cadavers. Measurements were made of the positions of the dissected arteries and perforators from the head of the fibula.
RESULTS
In all cadavers the superior lateral peroneal artery was originated from the anterior tibial artery and contributed SPNAA. Arising from the anterior tibial artery an average of 5.63 cm inferior to the fibular head, it varied from 10 cm to 16 cm in length. SPNAA gave off an average of 4.38 perforators to supply lateral aspect. In one case the inferior lateral peroneal artery was present and arose from the anterior tibial artery 18 cm inferior to the fibular head. There were an average of 3.38 direct septocutaneous perforators from the anterior tibial artery.
CONCLUSION
Septocutaneous perforators from SPNAA mainly exist from proximal 1/6 to 3/5 of lower leg. In the distal 1/3 of lower leg where the accessory artery was disappeared, exist mainly direct septocutaneous perforators from the anterior tibial artery. Our results can be helpful to applications of the neurocutaneous flap using SPNAA or fasciocutaneous flap based on direct septocutaneous perforators.

Keywords: Neurocutaneous flap; Superficial peroneal nerve accessory artery; Septocutaneous perforator; Anterior intermuscular septum