Arteries to the great and second toes based on three-dimensional analysis of 100 cadaveric feet

Three-dimensional arteriography was used to analyse the arterial supply of the great and second toes of 100 cadaveric feet down to the microsurgical level. This information will aid in successful composite tissue transfers of these toes to the hand. The arterial blood supply of the great toe came principally from the first dorsal metatarsal a. (78%) and the first plantar metatarsal a. (22%), and secondarily from the medial tarsal aa. and the three terminal branches of the medial plantar a. For the second toe, the first dorsal metatarsal a. (78%) and the first plantar metatarsal a. (22%) supplied blood from the medial side, and the second dorsal metatarsal a. (78%) and the second plantar metatarsal a. (22%) supplied blood from the lateral side. Seven arterial patterns were found in the interdigital web space. The socalled general pattern was seen in the first web space in 65% of the feet examined. In the second web space it was found in 85%. The first intermetatarsal space sometimes contained a large artery arising directly from the dorsalis pedis or first proximal perforating a. as well as the first dorsal and first plantar metatarsal arteries. In this space, arterial patterns were classified into 4 types and 9 subtypes based on the origins and proximal courses of these arteries. The so-called standard pattern was found in only 19% of the feet, while an arterial pattern with a common proximal trunk on the plantar side for the first dorsal and first plantar metatarsal aa. was found most frequently (46%). In the second intermetatarsal space the second dorsal metatarsal a. was usually located on the dorsum.