The microvascular anatomy of the metatarsal bones: a plastination study

Abstract

The plastination methods were excellent methods to analyze the arterial supply. In addition arterial damage after forefoot surgeries could be analyzed with these methods.

Presentation of the vascular supply of the proximal ulna using a sequential plastination technique

“…In fact, with these two preparation techniques vascular anatomy can only be studied either extraosseous or without bony structures in different specimens. A secondary plastination technique, first described by Rath and Koebke [18,19], enables the combination of peri-and intraosseous visualization of vascular structures in the same specimen. However, a shared problem of all injection techniques is the possibility of missing details of the vascular anatomy even in very fresh specimens due to the degeneration of the small vessels unable to be completely filled during the injection process.…”

“…Specimens were obtained from the cadavers aged from 71 to 85 years without any history of traumatic elbow injury. All specimens were prepared according to the sequential plastination technique [18,19]: after separation of the limb from the cadaveric body, the complete upper extremities were perfused and cleaned with saline solution. As the next step, 4 % formalin solution was perfused through the arterial vessels for preliminary fixation of the specimen at 1-3°C for 24 h. After that acetone wash out was performed up to 10 times to restore the natural color or the specimens.…”

The Intraosseous and Extraosseous Vascular Supply of the Fifth Metatarsal

“…In this study, the nutrient artery arose from the fourth plantar metatarsal artery in 100% of the specimens, in contrast to some previous descriptions. 14 The location of the nutrient artery in the fifth metatarsal is important when planning a corrective osteotomy for a bunionette deformity. In this study, the nutrient artery insertion was seen as distal as 40 mm from the medial aspect of the base of the fifth metatarsal, although the average distance was 26.8 mm from the base.…”

Presentation of the microscopic vascular architecture of the radial head using a sequential plastination technique

“…Regarding intraosseous vascularization, Spalteholz's technique is usually used for decalcification of specimens' bony structures so that injected vessels could be discovered. With the secondary plastination technique described by Rath and Koebke (Rath et al,2008, 2009), we were able to visualize both intra and periostal vascularization: we obtained transparent plastic slices of the specimens with a thickness of 4 mm to study from both sides. However, with all injection techniques, one must consider the fact that due to the degeneration of the small vessels even in fresh specimens, some very small vessels might not be filled completely during the injection process.…”

“…Specimens were 71–85 years of age and without any history of traumatic elbow injury. Fifteen specimens were prepared according to the sequential plastination technique (Rath et al,2008, 2009) and two with the conventional methods of preparation. After separation of the forearm from the cadaveric body, the complete upper extremities were perfused and cleaned with saline solution.…”