IJAR.2017.225

Type of Article:  Original Research

Volume 5; Issue 2.3 (June 2017)

Page No.: 3943-3948

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar.2017.225

MORPHOMETRIC STUDY OF NUTRIENT FORAMEN IN THE LONG BONES OF LOWER LIMB

Kalyanasundaram Mohan 1, Backiaraj  Devaraj 2, Shalini Ramanathan *3, Manoranjitham Rethinasamy 4.

1 Professor, Department of Anatomy, Thanjavur Medical College, Thanjavur, Tamilnadu, India.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital, Siruvachur, Perambalur, Tamilnadu, India.

*3 Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital, Siruvachur, Perambalur, Tamilnadu, India.

4 Professor and Head, Department of Anatomy, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital, Siruvachur, Perambalur, Tamilnadu, India.

Address for Correspondence: Dr. Shalini Ramanathan, Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital, Siruvachur, Perambalur, Tamilnadu, India. E-Mail: liniram80@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Background: The nutrient foramen allows the passage of the neurovascular bundle to and from the diaphysis of the long bones. The nutrient foramen has a specific position in each long bone. The nutrient artery is the main source of blood supply to the actively growing long bone in children.

Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in 450 long bones of the lower limb (150- femur, 150- tibia, 150- fibula). The number, size, location and direction of the diaphyseal nutrient foramen in each of the long bones was noted. The foraminal index was also calculated using the Hughes formula.

Results: In femur single nutrient foramen was present in 64% of the bones, double nutrient foramina in 30% of the bones and triple nutrient foramina in 6% of the bones. The most common location of the nutrient foramina in femur was in between the 2 lips of linea aspera, which was noted in 40.84% of the bones and in 88% of the bones the nutrient foramen was located in the middle third of the shaft of femur. In tibia, single nutrient foramen was found in 98% of the bones and double nutrient foramina were found in 2% of the bones. The most common location of the nutrient foramen in tibia was on the posterior surface midway between the interosseous border and soleal line, which was noted in 47.05% of the bones and in 58% of the bones, the nutrient foramen was located in the middle third of the shaft of tibia. In fibula, single nutrient foramen was found in 98.66% of the bones and double nutrient foramina were found in 1.33% of the bones. The most common location of the nutrient foramen in fibula was on the posterior surface on the medial crest, which was noted in 41.44%of the bones and in 90% of the bones the nutrient foramen was on the middle third of the shaft of fibula.

Conclusion: The precise knowledge of the nutrient foramen of the long bones of lower limb will help Orthopaedicians and Plastic surgeons during surgeries of the lower limb.

Key words: Nutrient Foramen, Nutrient Artery, Foraminal Index, Dominant Nutrient Foramen, Secondary Nutrient Foramen.

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Cite this article: Kalyanasundaram Mohan, Backiaraj Devaraj, Shalini Ramanathan, Manoranjitham Rethinasamy. MORPHOMETRIC STUDY OF NUTRIENT FORAMEN IN THE LONG BONES OF LOWER LIMB. Int J Anat Res 2017;5(2.3):3943-3948. DOI: 10.16965/ijar.2017.225