Topographical anatomy of the fibula and peroneal artery in Koreans

• Published in: International journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery Vol. 30; no. 4; pp. 329 - 332
• Main Authors: Choi, S.W., Kim, H.J., Koh, K.S., Chung, I.H., Cha, I.H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Arteries - anatomy & histology; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Biological and medical sciences; Dentistry; Female; fibula; Fibula - anatomy & histology; Fibula - blood supply; free flap; Head and neck surgery. Maxillofacial surgery. Dental surgery. Orthodontics; Humans; implant; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Korea; Leg - blood supply; Male; Maxillofacial surgery. Dental surgery. Orthodontics; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Osteoarticular system. Muscles; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; peroneal artery; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgical Flaps; Tropical medicine; Asia; Korea; peroneal artery; free flap; implant; fibula; Fibula; Shape; Cross section; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Lower limb; Length measurement; Anatomical reconstruction; Vascularization; Surgery; ENT disease; Adult; Graft; Bone defect; Maxillary disease; Human; Mandible; Implant; Stomatology; Periosteum; Maxillofacial; Postmortem; Exploration; Anatomy; Peroneal artery; Treatment; Musculocutaneous flap; Tooth; Cadaver
• ISSN: 0901-5027; 1399-0020
• DOI: 10.1054/ijom.2001.0055

Vascularized fibula flaps have many advantages in the restoration of the contour and function of the mandible. Potential disadvantages include, unreliable skin paddle and the limited volume of the fibula. This study was designed, to clarify the anatomy of the peroneal artery to the fibula and lateral leg skin, and to measure the dimensions of the fibula available for dental implant placement in Korean. Through the dissection of 63 legs of Korean cadavers, we demonstrated that in most cases the musculoperiosteal (mp) and septocutaneous (sc) branches of the peroneal artery were distributed at the middle and lower thirds of the fibula. There were double the number of mp perforators to the skin compared to sc branches. This indicates the inclusion of a generous >1cm cuff of Peroneous longus and flexor hallucis longus (FHL) in the distal and middle third of the fibula. The location of the nutrient foramen was just proximal to the midpoint. Thus, a 15–20cm length of the fibula is available in Koreans and an 8–12mm length of implant can be placed to the fibula, which provides sufficient bone to reconstruct a large mandibular defect.