The aim of this study was to demonstrate the relationship between the deep fibular
nerve and the dorsalis pedis artery to provide useful anatomical knowledge for safe
surgical approaches in plastic surgery. The dissection of 30 cadaver lower limbs was
undertaken to describe the relationship of the deep fibular nerve to the dorsalis
pedis artery in the anterior tarsal tunnel and on the dorsum of the foot. The anterior
tarsal tunnel is a flattened space between the inferior extensor retinaculum and the
fascia overlying the talus and navicular. The deep fibular nerve and its branches
pass longitudinally through this fibro-osseous tunnel, deep to the tendons of the
extensor hallucis longus and extensor digitorum longus. Four distinct relationships
of the deep fibular nerve to the dorsalis pedis artery were determined. The dorsalis
pedis neurovascular island flap contains both the dorsalis pedis artery and the deep
fibular nerve. Because the design of a neurovascular free flap requires detailed knowledge
of the nerve and vascular supply, the data presented here are intended to help surgeons
during surgical approaches to the foot and ankle.
KEY WORDS
Anterior tarsal tunnel - Deep fibular nerve - Dorsalis pedis artery - Dorsum of foot