The anatomy of the angular branch of the thoracodorsal artery.

This study reports an anatomical investigation of the angular branch of the thoracodorsal artery, which can be used in reconstructive surgery to serve as a pedicle for gaining osseous material from the scapula. The study was performed on 135 samples and topography and morphometry of the vessel were investigated. It was found that this artery has five main types of origin. It courses in the fascial gliding layer between the serratus muscle, and the teres major and subscapular muscle to the inferior angle of the scapula. There it provides the bone with blood through periostal branches as part of the arterial rete on the costal and dorsal side of the scapula. The mean length of the angular branch and the thoracodorsal artery together was 148 mm, and when also adding the subscapular artery the overall length became 167 mm. It was found that the length of a pedicle consisting of the angular branch and the thoracodorsal artery is determined by the difference in origin of the vessels with minor influences of the body size. The internal diameters of unfilled fixated vessels measured 3.06 mm for the subscapular, 1.77 mm for the circumflex scapular, 1.30 mm for the thoracodorsal and 0. 64 mm for the angular branch. The exact knowledge of the microanatomy in this area is necessary to be able to use the osseous free flap more selectively and have less traumatization in the donor area.