Analysis of the vascular anatomy of the palm and its clinical relevance in Morbus Dupuytren.

The triangular center of the palm is supposedly hypovascularized. Intraoperative clinical studies have shown numerous vessels and nerves rising through the palmar aponeurosis into the skin in this area. To investigate these findings we have dissected 7 cadaver hands in order to analyze the vascular and neural structure of the palm. On an average we have found 30 bundles in the center of the palm. At least half of them were vascular-nerve bundles, the other bundles consisted either of a nerve, an artery or a vein. By means of histological testing we have also found lymphatic vessels accompanying the blood vessels and the nerves. Our study shows a greater number of vessels rising into the skin than has been previously described in the literature, so that we cannot confirm the triangular hypovascular zone in the center of the palm.