Anatomical variation of the Dorsalis pedis artery in a South African population – A Cadaveric Study

• Published in: Foot (Edinburgh, Scotland) Vol. 35; pp. 16 - 27
• Main Authors: Ntuli, S., Nalla, S., Kiter, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland Elsevier Ltd 01-06-2018
• Subjects: Adult; African Continental Ancestry Group - genetics; Cadaver; Clinical significance of arterial variations; Dissection; Dorsalis pedis variations; European Continental Ancestry Group - genetics; Female; Foot - anatomy & histology; Foot - blood supply; Humans; Male; South Africa; South African population; Tibial Arteries - anatomy & histology; Vascular pattern; South Africa; Clinical significance of arterial variations; DPA; UJ; Vascular pattern; South African population; SA; Dorsalis pedis variations
• ISSN: 0958-2592; 1532-2963
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foot.2018.01.002

•Documenting dorsalis pedis artery variations based on population background.•Documenting dorsalis pedis artery pattern variations that were gender based.•Empirical evidence of dorsalis pedis artery variations within South African population.
The dorsalis pedis artery is responsible for blood supply to the dorsal aspect of the foot and is vital in the clinical assessment of the arterial supply thereof. Clinical assessment should consider anatomical variations of dorsalis pedis artery. Clearly, a thorough understanding of the potential variations of the vasculature in the area is important for a precise clinical assessment of arterial supply to the foot. The aim of this study was to investigate the different branching patterns of the dorsalis pedis artery that exist in a South African population.
A Cadaveric study in which a total of 33 dissected lower limbs (27 adult cadavers and 6 partial wet lower limb specimens) of a South African population sample were studied. The course and branching pattern of the dorsalis pedis artery were photographed and documented.
Nine variations of the dorsalis pedis artery were recorded, with the standard branching pattern being the most common with an incidence of 36.36% and a completely absent dorsalis pedis artery variation was noted in 6.06% of the sample.
Nine variations of the arterial anatomy of the dorsalis pedis artery were identified in this current study. Each of these may possibly alter the location or strength of the dorsalis pedis pulse affecting clinical assessment outcomes. Knowledge of dorsalis pedis variations may be useful to clinicians when making clinical decisions.