Anatomical study on the branching pattern of The dorsalis pedis artery and its exact position on the ankle joint

Background: The dorsalis pedis artery (DPA)—a continuation of the anterior tibial artery—is the primary blood supply to the dorsal foot. Clinically, it aids in detecting pedal pulses, thus assisting surgeons in evaluating peripheral arterial circulation of the leg and foot. Additionally, the DPA serves as a source for flaps or pedicles in bypass graft procedures, particularly in surgical repair of ischaemic limbs in diabetic patients and other related injuries.Anatomical variations of the DPA are common and can contribute to surgical misdiagnosis of lower limb vascular conditions. As such, the study aimed to examine the anatomy, branching patterns, and anatomical position of the DPA at the anterior ankle joint.Materials & Methods: The study used 200 cadaveric feet. The branching patterns were categorized using a previously published classification system.Results: Fourteen distinct DPA branching patterns (Types A to N) were identified with Type H noted as the most prevalent, observed in (14.29%) of cases. The average distances measured from the intermalleolar line, the DPA’s origin to the lateral and medial malleoli, were 69.30 mm, 47.19 mm, and 39.61 mm, respectively, indicating a medial skewness of the DPA’s position on the ankle joint. The mean diameter of the DPA was noted as 2.37 mm.Conclusion: These findings provide valuable data for vascular mapping of the distal foot arteries. These insights may assist in the detection of pedal pulses, enhance teaching in anatomical and clinical settings, and support surgical planning for bypass grafts in the management of ischaemic limbs.