[Anatomic study on compound flap of distally-based saphenous nerve-great saphenous vein nutritional vessels].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anatomic structure of the compound flap of distally-based saphenous nerve-great saphenous vein nutritional vessels so as to provide anatomic basis for the clinical operation. METHODS: The origin, branches, anastomosis of nutritional vessels of sural nerve-great saphenous vein, and the relation of blood supply of tibia and soleus muscle were observed on 30 low limb specimens of adult cadaver, which were perfused with red gelatin to dissect from the artery. RESULTS: The nutritional vessels of sural nerve-great saphenous vein originated from: the saphenous artery 3-5 branches with a diameter of 0.7+/-0.4 mm; the cutaneous branches of medial inferior genicular artery, diameter of 0.7+/-0.2 mm; the intermuscular space perforating branches of posterior tibial artery 2-7 branches with a diameter of 1.0+/-0.2 mm, the internus half side of the muscular branches nutrient soleus muscle; the perforating osteoseptocutaneous 1-2 branches with a diameter of 1.3+/-0.3 mm; the perforating branches of superior malleolus with a diameter of 0.6+/-0.2 mm; the perforating branches of medial anterior malleolus with a diameter of 0.8+/-0.3 mm. A vascular network of 3 layers, which included periosteum, deep artery, and fascia nerve and superficial vein, was formed by those branches of deep artery, fascia branches, periosteum branches, and nerve-vein nutrition branches. CONCLUSION: The nutritional vessels of saphenous nerve-great saphenous vein has the same origin as muscles, bones, and cutaneous nutritional vessels. It provides anatomic basis for the compound flap of distally-based saphenous nerve nutritional vessels.