ANATOMIC STUDY OF THE SUPERFICIAL PERINEAL NEUROVASCULAR PEDICLE - IMPLICATIONS IN VULVOPERINEAL FLAP DESIGN

Thirty superficial perineal neurovascular pedicles from 15 formaldehyd e-fixed female cadavers were dissected and analyzed with the purpose o f establishing the anatomic basis for the design and elevation of vulv operineal fasciocutaneous flaps based on their anatomic elements. The average internal diameter of the superficial perineal artery was 0.53 +/- 0.2 mm, determined by means of an image analysis system. Three dis tinct anatomic patterns of cutaneous arterial vascularization were see n bilaterally, and two types of vulvoperineal fasciocutaneous flaps ar e described.