Applied anatomy of the dorsal digital artery of the thumb

Objective: To provide the anatomical basis for the bl oo d supply of replantation of the severed proximal thumb.Methods: Forty fresh hand specimens were employed with ABS infusion, transparenc y, micro-dissection and macro-dissection and their vascular organizations were ob served.Results:The dorsal artery of the thumb derived from the dorsal carpal branch of the radial artery whose outer diameter was 0.7±0.2 mm (0.5～1.2 mm) with 80% occurrence.The dorsal digital artery of thumb had 2～3 branches to form circular anastomosis with the radial dorsal proper artery of the thumb and ulnar dorsal proper artery of the thumb near the base of the proximal thumb.Conclusion:The dorsal digital arter y of the thumb could serve as the second route for the blood supply of the replantation with the injuried radial dorsal artery of the thumb and ulnar dorsal proper artery of the thumb and solve the vascular crisis.