The posterior midline of the lower

The posterior midline of the lower leg was marked. A longitudinal incision was made from the midpoint of the popliteal fossa downward. Based on previously determined perforator locations,more than a 2-cm distance between the incision and the perforators was ensured. The skin and subcutaneous tissue were incised. Blunt dissection was performed on the surface of the deep fascia to expose the superficial lateral sural artery and its perforators and determine whether they were usable. Due to relatively large blood vessel caliber variations, the blood vessel caliber was determined under a microscope when necessary. we supposed that blood vessels with more than 0.5-mm caliber could be used as donor vessels. If the vessel calibers were suitable, then it was dissected bluntly toward the proximal end based on the locations of the perforators and the vessel length requirement of the recipient site (case 2, Fig. 1; case 5, Fig. 2). In addition, blunt dissection of the superficial lateral sural artery and vein and the lateral sural nerve was also performed. When the vessels were closely accompanied by the nerve, part of the nerve was simultaneously excised to avoid damaging the blood vessel.