RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to provide anatomical information for the repair of small tissue defects in the hand with posterior interosseous artery chain-link perforator flaps, a proximal fasciocutaneous extension of the distal-based posterior interosseous flap, which allows the exclusion of the proximal posterior interosseous artery. METHODS: Fourteen posterior interosseous artery chain-link perforator flaps taken from human cadavers were studied by the following three methods: latex perfusion for microanatomy analysis, denture material and vinyl chloride mixed packing for cast analysis, and latex perfusion for the production of clearance specimens. Statistical analysis was performed on cutaneous perforators coming from the intermuscular septum of the extensor carpi ulnaris and the extensor digitorum communis. A cluster analysis was conducted to determine the overall distribution of perforators. RESULTS: There are two main clusters of perforators at a relative distance of 21% and 48% along the ulnar head-to-lateral epicondyle interval. On average, the posterior interosseous artery extends six cutaneous perforators through the intermuscular septum of the extensor carpi ulnaris and the extensor digitorum communis. Of these six arteries, two are clinically significant perforators (0.5 mm or more in diameter) and are located 6 ± 2 cm proximal to the head of the ulna and 10 ± 1 cm distal to the lateral epicondyle of the humerus. Their mean diameters are 0.5 ± 0.1 and 0.6 ± 0.1 mm, with pedicle lengths of 16.8 ± 5.1 and 21.2 ± 12.3 mm, respectively. At the two main clusters of perforator-intensive sites, the vessel chains formed by adjacent perforators are parallel to the intermuscular septum of the extensor carpi ulnaris and the extensor digitorum communis. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the posterior interosseous artery has two main clusters of perforators in the middle and distal one-fifth of the forearm, which can be used for repairing hand defects with posterior interosseous artery chain-link perforator flaps.