Applied anatomy for the transposition of the proximal ulna periosteal flap pedicled with dorsal branch of ulnar recurrent vessels

Objective: To provide a new kind of donor of periosteal flap for repairing the humerus nonunion.Methods:The origins, courses, branches, distributions and anastomosis of ulnar recurrent artery and inferior ulnar collateral artery were observed on 30 adult cadaveric upper limb specimens.Results: The ulnar recurrent artery originated from the proximal ulnar artery 5.3±1.0 cm beneath the medial epicondyle of humerus, with a diameter of 1.9±0.3 mm. It divided into a palmar branch and a dorsal branch.The dorsal branch situated at the deep of ulnar nerve and ascending along the ulnar groove, and divided into 4～8 periosteal braches to the medial upper part of ulna with a diameter of 0.3～1.0 mm.Conclusions: The reversed transposition of periosteal flap pedicled with dorsal branch of ulnar recurrent vessels could be designed for repairing nonunion of the middle distal humerus.etranspos