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International Journal of Anatomical Sciences 2010, 1:37-38.

Case Report

Double Dorsalis Pedis Artery – A Rare Case Report

Vijayalakshmi. S, Varsha S.

Department of Anatomy, Saveetha Medical College, Kancheepuram 602 105, Tamil Nadu, India

Key Words: dorsalis pedis artery, anomalous, musculocutaneous flap, peripheral pulse

 Abstract: Dorsalis pedis artery running on the dorsum of the foot is one of the arteries, where peripheral arterial pulsation is felt. Also the musculo-cutaneous flaps based on dorsalis pedis artery are commonly used for reconstructive surgeries.  Hence the knowledge of any variation in the course and distribution of dorsalis pedis artery is  clinically  important.  Here  a  rare  case  of  anomalous  dorsalis  pedis  artery  is presented.

 The change in lifestyle in this 21st century has      increased the number of diabetic patients. It has become a challenge to the health care providers to deal with the complications  due  to  diabetes.  Long standing and neglected cases have been seen to end up with diabetic neuropathy and diabetic  foot  ulcers.  These  non  healing ulcers are challenging problems, for surgeons, which are commonly dealt with by musculocutaneous flaps based on the branches of dorsalis pedis artery.

Dorsalis pedis artery of the dorsum of foot is the continuation of anterior tibial artery  seen  in  1st    intermetatarsal  space, where  it  dips  into  the  sole,  between  the heads of 1st  dorsal interosseous muscle to complete  the  plantar  arch.  In  the  foot  it gives off medial and lateral tarsal arteries, arcuate artery and first dorsal metatarsal artery (William et al., 1989).

 Case Report

During   routine   dissection   of   the  lower limb of a male cadaver, aged around 60 years, the anterior tibial artery (AT) on the right side divided into three branches midway between the two malleoli. Among the three branches, lateral tarsal (LT) artery was the lateral most, supplying tarsals. The two   medial   branches   ran   side   by   side together on the dorsum of the foot to reach the first inter-metatarsal space. The lateral one (D 2) of the two dipped in the proximal aspect of the space to join the plantar arch.

The medial branch (D 1) continued as 1st dorsal metatarsal artery. Both these arteries gave medial tarsal branches. Arcuate artery was absent in this case.

 Discussion and conclusion

Since ages interesting anomalies of the dorsalis pedis artery have been noted by the anatomists and surgeons. According to Huber in his study in1941, the dorsalis pedis artery   was   found   to   arise   from   the perforating branch of peroneal artery and deviated either medially or laterally in 3% of the cases. In another study by Bailleul et al., in1984 it was found that in 15 out of 67 specimens dorsalis pedis artery divided into two terminal branches 3cm distal to its origin.   In   this   study   the   author   also suggested arteriography to be taken prior to foot flap surgeries.  In  1994, Maral  et al., studied the pattern of dorsalis pedis artery and found in around 8% of the cases the dorsalis pedis artery was the continuation of peroneal artery.

 Fig. 1 Photograph of the dorsum of the right foot.

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(AT- Anterior tibial artery; LT- Lateral tarsal artery ; D1 &D2 – Medial and lateral dorsalis pedis arteries)

In  the  present  study  two  dorsalis pedis arteries were seen arising from the anterior tibial artery. Both the arteries ran side by side to reach first intermetatarsal space, one dipping in the proximal aspect of  the  space  and  the  other  continued  as  1st dorsal   metatarsal   artery.   The   aberrant arteries or anomalous course of the arteries of the lower limb can be attributed to their development. The axis artery of the lower important role in the normal arterial morphogenesis of the lower limb. The tiny blood vessels derived from the blood islands in  the  3rd   and  4th   week  of  development merge with each other forming a continuous  network of fine vessels. New vessels buds out   from   the   walls   grow   out   and   get canalized  to  form  newer  vessels.  These newer vessels of the neighbouring areas join to form a closed network. The adult arterial pattern of the lower limb develops from multiple and plexiform sources of vessels, and  emergence  of  anastomoses  between these vessels, which is followed by regression of some channels depending on the  functional  dominance.  This  explains why the anomalies of the blood vessels of the limbs not only present as divergence in the origin and course but also as supernumerary vessels in the region (Sadler,1985) (Kesavi et al., 2002).

Since the dorsalis pedis artery serves as an important pedicle for most of the reconstructive surgeries of the foot, the knowledge about the aberration of the usual anatomic pattern of origin, branching and anastomosing patterns of the artery are of prime importance to the general surgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, plastic and reconstructive surgeons who deal with this area.

 References

Bailleul.JP, Olivez.PR, Mestdag.H (1984) Desgra- phical anatomy of the dorsalis pedis artery of the foot. Bull Association of Anatomy (Nancy), 68:15-25.

Huber JF (1941) The arterial network supplying the dorsum of foot. Anat Res, 80: 373.

Kesavi.D, Singh K, Melani RS (2002) Anomalous course of dorsalis pedis artery. Anatomical Adjuncts, 3: 29-31.

Maral  TM,  Celik  TC  (1994)  Anomalous  dorsalis pedis artery. Surg Radiol Anat, 6: 319-323.

Sadler  TW(1985)In: Langman’s  Medical limb develops from the 5th  lumbar Embryology, 68-69.

William I, Walwick R, Dyson M (1989) In: Gray’s Anatomy 37th Edition, Edinburg: Churchill Livingstone. 1572.

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