True and 'choke' anastomoses between perforator angiosomes: Part i. anatomical location

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Reports of more than two cutaneous perforator angiosome territories being raised successfully in distally based sural flaps are appearing in the literature. Previous anatomical studies have noted that cutaneous arteries, connected by true anastomosis without change in caliber, frequently parallel cutaneous nerves. METHODS: Twenty-four (48 sides) total body lead oxide cadaver injection studies, including seven arterial and two venous neurovascular, were examined, and the results were compared with clinical thermography in Part II. RESULTS: Long branches of cutaneous perforators, connected in a series by true anastomoses, paralleled at variable distances the main trunks of cutaneou..