Abstract:

Objective　To explore arterial supply of the talus and the related operative approaches.　Methods　20 fresh adult foot specimens, with no vascular disease, and injected with red latex, were used in this study. Ankle joints were dissected at different levels, followed by the observation and comparison with the casting specimens. We measured external diameter of main arteries nourishing talus, and dissected it's origin, courses, distributions and anastomoses. 　Results　Talus was mainly supplied by the deltoid branch, posterior tubercule branch, and the tarsal canal artery of the posterior tibial artery with the diameter of (0.98±0.04)mm, (0.25±0.06)mm and (1.02±0.1)mm, respectively. Those branches distributed mainly to the posteromedial aspect of the ankle joint. The superior cervical branch and the tarsal canal artery issued from the anterior tibial artery, with the diameter of (0.3±0.1）mm and (1.08±0.6）mm, distributed to the anterior aspect of the ankle joint. The calcaneal branch and the perforating branch arised from the peroneal artery, with the diameter of (0.42±0.18）mm and (0.69±0.12）mm, distributed to posterolateral aspect of the ankle joint. Extensive vascular anastomoses among them were recognized on the cast specimens of foot and ankle.　Conclusions　The anteromedial approach to the talus between the anterior tibial artery and the deltoid artery causes least damage to talus blood supply.

Key words: Talus, Operation approach, Blood supply, Applied anatomy