Applied anatomy of distally based compound flap pedicled with nutritional vessels of the medial cutaneous nerve of forearm

Objective To provide anatomic basis for project of distally-based compound flap pedicled with nutritional vessels of the medial cutaneous nerve of forearm.Methods We observed the origin,branches and inferior 1/3 segment of medial cutaneous nerve of forearm-basilic vein and its relationship with ulnar periosteal vessels on 30 adult cadaver superior limb specimens.Results The origin of nutritional vessels of inferior 1/3 segment of medial cutaneous nerve of forearm-basilic vein:the perforating branches of ulnar artery had(5～9)branches,diameters were(0.7±0.3)mm;diameters of dorsal carpal branches of ulnar artery were(0.7±0.2)mm.It's located in the position between 6.0～16.0cm of superior of ulnar styloid process,the bone cutaneous perforating branches of anterior artery had 2～3 branches,diameters were(0.7±0.2)mm;the bone cutaneous perforating branches of posterior interosseous artery had 1～3 branches, diameters were(0.6±0.2)mm.Conclusion The results suggest that the nutritional vessels of the medial cutaneous nerve and forearm-basilic vein and the nutritional vessels of bone and skin were homology.The rotation point of flap is close to the wrist joint,it can be applied to repair soft tissues defect of distant placeof hand.