Clinical significance of peroneal vessel distribution at distal segment of tibia and fibula

Objective: To provide anatomical basis for clinical operation.Methods: The lower limbs of 30 adult cadaver were observed for arterial branches of the peroneal artery to distal segment of tibia and fibula.Results: In the middle of legs,the peroneal vessels lay on the medial surface of fibula and posteolateral of tibia.Arterial branches supplying the posterion surface of distal segment tibia arose directly from peroneal artery or from anastomotic branch.Peroneal artery to posterior surface of distal segment fibula was arcuate.We designed the combined osteoperiosteal flap of tibia distal segment and fibula pedicled with peroneal vessels based on what was found.Conclusion: The combined osteoperiosteal flap,with the retrograde peroneal vessel pedicle, may be used to repair tibia nonunion and defect of ankle joint.