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The morphometric anatomy and clinical importance of the radial artery
Affiliations- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia
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Abstract
Background: The radial forearm flap (RFF), including the radial artery (RA) and venous components, is used for hand reconstruction surgery. Updating the knowledge of the vascular anatomy in the forearm and associated flaps, such as the RFF, is useful in bringing innovations into reconstructive surgery. This study aimed to describe the morphometric anatomy of the RA and the associated RFF in human cadavers.
Materials and methods: A total of 16 forearms from 8 human cadavers were dissected. The group consisted of 5 men and 3 women with a mean age at death of 59.05 ± 14.06 years. The inclusion criteria consisted of no history of trauma or surgery; thus, only apparently normal cadavers were included. The measurement of the following parameters was performed on these human cadavers: the mean diameter of the RA, the length of the RA, the average diameter of the cephalic vein, the length of the pedicle of the flap, and the average area of the radial forearm flap.
Results: In males, the mean diameter of the RA at the wrist was 2.58 ± 1.1 mm. In females, the mean diameter of the RA was 2.60 ± 0.99 mm, and the mean length of the RA was 20.55 ± 1.7 cm. The average diameter of the cephalic vein was 1.8 ± 0.8 mm. The length of the pedicle of the flap was 8.88 ± 1.6 cm. The average area of the RFF was 5 × 7 cm2.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates the morphometric anatomy of the RA and lateral forearm radial artery flaps in human cadavers, which could be useful in improving the success rate during transradial coronary interventions and performing complex hand injuries.
Abstract
Background: The radial forearm flap (RFF), including the radial artery (RA) and venous components, is used for hand reconstruction surgery. Updating the knowledge of the vascular anatomy in the forearm and associated flaps, such as the RFF, is useful in bringing innovations into reconstructive surgery. This study aimed to describe the morphometric anatomy of the RA and the associated RFF in human cadavers.
Materials and methods: A total of 16 forearms from 8 human cadavers were dissected. The group consisted of 5 men and 3 women with a mean age at death of 59.05 ± 14.06 years. The inclusion criteria consisted of no history of trauma or surgery; thus, only apparently normal cadavers were included. The measurement of the following parameters was performed on these human cadavers: the mean diameter of the RA, the length of the RA, the average diameter of the cephalic vein, the length of the pedicle of the flap, and the average area of the radial forearm flap.
Results: In males, the mean diameter of the RA at the wrist was 2.58 ± 1.1 mm. In females, the mean diameter of the RA was 2.60 ± 0.99 mm, and the mean length of the RA was 20.55 ± 1.7 cm. The average diameter of the cephalic vein was 1.8 ± 0.8 mm. The length of the pedicle of the flap was 8.88 ± 1.6 cm. The average area of the RFF was 5 × 7 cm2.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates the morphometric anatomy of the RA and lateral forearm radial artery flaps in human cadavers, which could be useful in improving the success rate during transradial coronary interventions and performing complex hand injuries.
Keywords
radial artery, radial forearm flap, vascular anatomy, forearm, radial artery graft
About this articleTitle
The morphometric anatomy and clinical importance of the radial artery
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original article
Pages
839-844
Published online
2020-11-17
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6602
Article views/downloads
1015
DOI
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2021;80(4):839-844.
Keywords
radial artery
radial forearm flap
vascular anatomy
forearm
radial artery graft
Authors
W. A. Alasmari
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