Coincidence of Perforators and Acupoints of Lower Extremity Flaps: A Preliminary Study.

Introduction: Several reports have shown that there is a coincidence relationship between perforators and acupoints. However, objective experimental methods are still lacking and more systematic studies are needed. Objective: We designed a preliminary study to analyze the coincidence rate of acupoints with perforators. Methods: Healthy volunteers were recruited with the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Three TCM clinical physicians determined acupoints in areas of the lower limb of participants. Two microsurgeons sketched corresponding regions on the body surface based on the most common skin flap operation sites, located bone markers, and drew the skin flap axis. Doppler ultrasound was used to mark the perforator point, and the distances measured for both points. Results: The distance between 23 acupoints and perforator points measured was less than 5 mm for the majority of acupoints. Among them, the coincidence rate of Futu (ST32) and the near perforator is the highest, reaching up to 98% and only four acupoints are lower than 60%. There are 651 acupoint location data that are overlayed, which refers to their distance less than 5 mm from perforator. Conclusion: The location of acupoints and perforator points have high overlapping rates within the range of 5 mm in the flap area of lower limbs. There is always a consistent perforator around the acupuncture point chosen by the Chinese medicine practitioner through this experiment. We identified high relevance of situation between acupoints and perforating vessels, which may give some hints for further TCM acupoint elucidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]