Vascular supply of the palmar subcutaneous tissue of fingers

The arterial system of the palmar subcutaneous fatty tissue of fingers was studied by injecting a coloured silicone polymer into the vessels of 12 fresh human cadaver hands. Arterial vascularisation of these tissues is ensured by small palmar branches arising from the main digital arteries: there were an average of 7 branches on each side varying between 4 and 12 in the specimens studied. Three anatomical patterns could be distinguished: an I-shaped configuration in 64% of cases, a narrow V-shape in 23%, and a Y-shape in 13%. An accompanying venous network was always present and drained into either the superficial or deep venous network. These anatomical findings confirm the vascular reliability of the homodigital subcutaneous flap described by the authors.