Anatomical aspects of the blood supply to the skin of the posterior calf

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technique [m of below-knee amputation. Gray-D-W. Ng-R-L. Nuffield Department of Surgery, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Br-J-Surg. 1990 Jun. 77(6). P 662-4. Whether or not the soleus muscle should be excised during below-knee amputation [m is a point of contention. The anatomical basis for the blood supply to the skin of the posterior calf has been examined by dissection and selective arterial injection of cadavers. The results showed that the skin used to construct the posterior flap for below-knee [1mamputation [m derives its blood supply from both axial vessels, running with the peripheral nerves, and perforating vessels arising through the gastrocnemius muscle. There is no contribution by blood vessels that pass through the soleus muscle. When a posterior flap for below-knee amputation [m is constructed the soleus muscle should be completely excised.