Periosteal flaps: anatomical bases of sites of elevation.

An anatomical study made in 25 injected fresh subjects made it possible to map out the periosteal flaps capable of being raised on the limbs. The preferred donor sites are the distal third of the humerus, the iliac fossa and the distal third of the femur. At the last 2 sites composite osteo-periosteal or musculo-osteo-periosteal flaps can be raised. These technical possibilities illustrate the importance of experimental studies which have shown the osteogenic capacity of grafts of vascularized periosteum.