Morphological Study of Nutrient Foramina in Long Bones of Upper Limb among North Gujarat Population

Abstract

Introduction: Main source of nutrition to long bone during growth and ossification is nutrient artery. Nutrient canal opens as nutrient foramen on the surface of shaft which conducts the nutrient artery and the peripheral nerves to bones. Nutrient artery provides more than 60-70% of blood supply to long bone, 30- 40% through periosteal, metaphyseal and epiphyseal blood vessels. Aim: To determine number of nutrient foramina, its position on surface of shaft, size and direction of nutrient foramina either towards proximal end or distal end and find out foraminal index from the position of nutrient foramina. Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 177 dry bones (60 humerus, 60 radius, 57 ulna) of upper limb, available at Anatomy Department, GMERS Medical College Himmatnagar, during September 2021. All bones were observed for number, position and direction of nutrient foramina. Size of foramen was measured by needles of different size. Mean Foraminal index was calculated for each long bone of upper limb by using Epi Info™ for windows, CDC, Atlanta, version 7.2. Results: Majority of bones had single nutrient foramina, all foramina were directed towards the elbow joint. All nutrient foramina were on flexor surfaces of bone, except one bone (radius). Majority of nutrient foramina were situated on middle 3rd of the shaft. Size of nutrient foramen was range from 22 to 28 gauge of needle. Conclusion: Information on nutrient foramina of long bones of upper limb will be useful in many orthopedic surgeries like microvascular bone grafting and many plastic reconstructive surgeries. During surgeries like fracture repair, bone graft or muscle graft care should be taken, not to damage these nutrient vessels to keep intact blood supply of bone.