Morphometric Analysis of Nutrient Foramina in Human Typical Long Bones Of Upper Limb.

ABSTRACT

The major blood supply to long bones occurs through the nutrient arteries, which enter through the nutrient foramina. This supply is essential during the growing period, during the early phases of ossification, and in procedures such as bone grafts, tumor resections, traumas, congenital pseudoarthrosis, and in transplant techniques in orthopaedics. The present study analyzed the location, direction, size and the number of nutrient foramina in the diaphysis of 180 long bones of the upper limbs of adults 60 humerus, 60 radius, 60 ulna. The location of the nutrient foramina is predominant on the anterior aspect of the upper limb long bones. The majority of the bones studied had a single nutrient foramen, which may represent a single source of blood supply. The mean foraminal index for the upper limb bones was 55.4% for the humerus, 34.7% for the radius, and 36.0% for the ulna. This study recorded data that may help in surgical procedures and in the interpretation of radiological images.