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J Reconstr Microsurg
DOI: 10.1055/a-2717-4092
Original Article

Largest Investigation of Branching Patterns of the Popliteal Artery

Authors

  • Cen-Hung Lin 

    1   Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    2   Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    3   Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

  • Jui-Po Yeh

    1   Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

  • Yun-Ting Chen

    4   Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

  • Meng-Hsiang Chen

    5   Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    6   School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

Funding Information None.
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Abstract

Background

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma accounts for 4.5% of all new cancers diagnosed. A fibula free flap is often performed after tumor resection. Preoperative acknowledgment of the branching patterns of the popliteal artery is important to avoid flap failure or leg ischemia after flap harvest. We performed this extensive study using a modified classification to help thoroughly recognize variations.

Methods

The subjects were Taiwanese patients who received radiologic examinations of their lower limbs at a single medical center from May 2006 to December 2022. Only digital subtraction angiography, computed tomography angiography, and magnetic resonance angiography, which reveal the vasculature of the lower limbs, were included. All images were viewed by the same plastic surgeon on the same computer screen. Statistical analysis was subsequently performed on the data.

Results

In total, 1,244 right legs and 1,198 left legs (2,442 legs in total) from 1,485 Taiwanese patients were included in this study. In addition to normal branching, type IA, other branching patterns as variations occurred in 4.1% (n = 100) of the included legs. The second and third common patterns were type IIIA (1.06%, n = 26) and IB (0.98%, n = 24), respectively. Forty-seven patients presented with variation and had both legs evaluated, and 29.8% of them presented with bilateral variations.

Conclusion

A preoperative vascular examination is strongly recommended before harvesting a free fibular flap because some patients might have a blood supply to the foot and lower leg, mainly from the planned-to-be-harvested peroneal artery (PR), or might not have a workable PR. Using fibular vessels as a flap pedicle might not be able to be performed in up to 1.84% of legs.

Keywords

popliteal artery - branching - fibula flap

Contributors' Statement

C.-H.L.: writing, methodology, investigation, and data collection. Y.-J.P.: software and data collection. Y.-T.C.: conceptualization and investigation. M.-H.C.: supervision.


Note

This work was presented at the Plastic Surgery: The Meeting 2023.




Publication History

Received: 02 May 2025

Accepted: 21 September 2025

Accepted Manuscript online:
09 October 2025

Article published online:
27 October 2025

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