A Study of Diaphyseal Nutrient Artery Foramina of Dry Fibula in Human, done in a Government Medical College of Upper Assam, India

Abstract

Introduction: The nutrient foramina is the external opening in each bone which has a particular position and number in its diaphysis. A thorough knowledge of the position, number, direction and variation of the nutrient foramina of fibula is very much important, as this is one of the most common bone used in bone grafts, vascularised bone microsurgery and mandibular reconstruction. Aim: To determine the position of nutrient artery foramina in fibula and also their size and direction. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study which was conducted in the Department of Anatomy, Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, Assam, India, from MarchJune 2021. The study was conducted on 167 numbers of adult human cleaned and dried fibulae. The number, position, size and direction of nutrient foramina were recorded in a pretexted proforma. Foraminal Index (FI) was calculated and the range, mean and standard deviation of FI were determined. Results: In the present study, 167 bones were taken but only 159 showed nutrient foramina. Single dominant foramen was found in 92.5% (147/159) of bones. Secondary foramina were present in 7.5% (12/159) of bones. The FI was calculated. According to FI, maximum number of foramina was present on middle third of fibula (92.56%). In 7.44% of fibula the foramina were located in distal third of the bone. Conclusion: A thorough anatomical knowledge of the nutrient foramen is useful in planning the vascularised fibular graft. Hence the result of this study will provide detail data about the number, position and direction of nutrient artery foramina in fibula for successful outcome of various orthopaedic and plastic reconstructive surgeries.

Keywords

• dominant nutrient foramen
• foraminal index
• secondary nutrient foramen
• vascularised fibular graft