OBJECTIVE: To provide anatomic evidence for choosing medial calcaneal nerve(MCN ) as recipient cutaneous nerve to rebuild heel sensation. METHODS: We chose 20 adult cadavers' lower limbs, dissected the MCNs, observed their original sites, shapes, courses and distribution, and measured the perpendicular distance from original sites of MCNs from tibial nerve, original sites of their branches to the tip of medial malleolus, and the external diameters of their main trunks and branches. RESULTS: The frequency of the MCN was 95% in this array. All the MCNs arose from the tibial nerve at 3.3 cm up the horizontal plane of the tip of medial malleolus. They sent out anterior branches and posterior branches from 0.3 cm below the horizontal plane of the tip of medial malleolus on average. The anterior branch dominated the cutaneous sensation of the anterior part of the medial calcaneal and heel weight loading field, while the posterior branch dominated the sensation of the posterior and median part. The shape of MCNs, main trunks, anterior branches and posterior branches was like circular cylinder. At the origination, the external diameter of the MCN, the anterior branch and the posterior branch was 1.58, 1.13 and 0.90 mm on average, respectively. CONCLUSION The anatomical position of MCN is relatively constant, and its external diameter is suitable. The initiation is not close to the heel weight loading area. Its anatomic characteristics meet the requirements of sensation recovery of the heel, especially the heel weight loading field.
Adult ; Cadaver ; Calcaneus ; innervation ; Heel ; innervation ; Humans ; Peripheral Nerves ; anatomy & histology ; Tibial Nerve ; anatomy & histology

The location of the motor point of the gastrocnemius muscle was accurately defined relative to surrounding bony landmarks to facilitate the approach to the nerve of the gastrocnemius muscle during treatment for gastrocnemius muscle spasticity. Anatomic dissection of 40 cadaver knees was undertaken for morphometric measurement. The distances from the epicondyle of the femur to the motor branch, and from the motor branch to the motor point of the nerve to the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle were 3.68 +/- 11.44 mm, and 37.79 +/- 7.80 mm, respectively; while those of the nerve to lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle were 4.45 +/- 11.96 mm, and 32.16 +/- 4.64 mm, respectively. The tibial nerve lay 44.57 +/- 5.45% and 56.30 +/- 4.73% from the lateral margins of the epicondyle and the fibular head, respectively. Careful consideration of the morphometry of the motor point of the gastrocnemius muscle may provide accurate anatomical guidance, and hence reduce complications during the chemical blockage of these nerves.
Human ; Muscle Spasticity/*therapy ; Muscle, Skeletal/*innervation ; Tibial Nerve/anatomy & histology

OBJECTIVETo study the distribution of the dominant perforators (the diameter > or = 0.8 mm) of the peroneal artery with color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) for the purpose of anatomical preparations for the perforator sural neurocutaneous flap.

METHODSThe dominant perforators of the peroneal artery (DPPA) were studied with CDFI on bilateral legs of 20 healthy volunteers. The numbers, diameters and locations of the perforators were recorded for a statistical analysis. From Jan. 2005 to Jan. 2009, 51 free or pedicled sural neurocutaneous flaps supplied by a single DPPA were designed and harvested to repair the defects near the ankle (n=22), at the leg (n=15) and the forefoot or hand dorsum (n=14). The perforators were located preoperatively with CDFI and accuracy of CDFI was evaluated intraoperatively. The causes of false results were analysed to improve examining techniques.

RESULTSThe average number of DPPA was 4.2 with the average diameter of (1.13 +/- 0.24) mm (0.80-1.90 mm). They were located in the second to ninth segment of the line from the fibular caput to the tip of lateral malleolus which was equally divided into nine segments. The largest DPPA was (1.43 +/- 0.29) mm (1.00-1.90 mm) in diameter and most of them were located in the third to fifth segment (80.4%). The average diameter of the lowest DPPA was (1.02 +/- 0.16) mm( 0.80-1.30 mm) and they were located between the sixth to ninth segment. The total 169 DPPA as well as the largest ones mostly appeared in the middle third of the leg. All of the 51 flaps were transplanted successfully without necrosis, and no vascular problems occurred. Preoperative CDFI examination had a 93.6% true-positive rate and an 88.0% positive predictive value. What should be demonstrated was that if just considered the cases after Dec. 2007, the true-positive rate was 97%, and the positive predictive value was 93.9%.

CONCLUSIONSAccording to the distribution characteristics of DPPA, a sural neurocutaneous flap pedicled with one of this relatively large perforator can be designed and harvested to repair skin defects of leg and around ankle, but can not be utilized for that of forefoot. With anastomosis of the perforator, the flap based on the largest DPPA can be used as a free flap to cover defect anywhere. CDFI is reliable in preoperative location of DPPA, which makes the surgical procedures easier.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Leg ; blood supply ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sural Nerve ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Tibial Arteries ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult