Anatomical contribution to the surgical construction of the sartorius muscle flap

The sartorius muscle (SM) is frequently used as a surgical flap. This study intends to describe sartorius nerve and artery distribution in adult men. Fifty-three specimens obtained from fresh cadavers were prepared as described: 32 specimens were injected with a red-colored gelatin solution through the femoral artery so that intra-muscular arteries and nerves were dissected; six specimens were injected with barium sulfate solution through the femoral artery for radiography; seven specimens were injected with a Chinese ink solution, also through the femoral artery, for diaphanization; seven specimens were injected with a solution of vinyl acetate, through the femoral artery, to obtain an arterial cast and one specimen was cut and colored by Masson’s Trichrome. Sartorius branching patterns of the nerve and artery were schematized. The following measurements were taken for each dissected muscle: total length, arterial pedicle length and distance between each arterial pedicle to the proximal muscle extremity. Five to nine arterial pedicles were found in the sample. In their trajectories, these arteries may give rise to many branches to form a dense and elongated net of anastomoses. Intra- and inter-pedicular anastomoses were observed in the inner part of the muscle. The nerve supply originated from one or two branches, which enter the muscle together with the first or second arterial pedicle. The nerve branches were divided into two or three territorial branches, and then into four or five segmental branches, running longitudinally inside the muscle. The muscles showed an average length of 44.81 cm. SM is a segmented structure and it can be divided into as many as five arterial and nervous segments. In the proximal and middle parts, the muscle has better arterial supply. The segments can be filled by adjacent pedicles, due to an elongated net of anastomoses, which allow a longer arc of rotation in the construction of pedicled flaps.