Morphometric Study Of Nutrient Foramen Of The Dried Human Tibiae

ABSTRACT

Background: Nutrient foramen is an opening over which the nutrient artery enters and supplies the shaft of thelong bones. The nutrient foramen usually lies near the soleal line and transmits a branch of the posterior tibialartery. The posterior tibial artery is a branch from the popliteal artery. The nutrient vessel may also arise at thelevel of the popliteal bifurcation or as a branch from the anterior tibial artery.Methods: The present study was conducted on 200 dry human tibia bones of unknown sex and age. The tibiabones were observed for nutrient foramen macroscopically.Results: In our study the right sided 7 tibia bones and 6 left sided tibia bones have double nutrient foramen. Theposition of the nutrient foramen in the upper 1/3rd is observed in 77.47% tibia and in the middle 1/3rd in 17.84%of the tibia.The direction of the nutrient foramen is downwards in all the tibia bonesConclusions: The tibia is the most commonly fractured long bone and contributes significantly to the fracturecare worldwide. Fracture of the tibia through the nutrient canal disrupts the blood flow in the nutrient artery,thus contributing delayed union and non-union of the bone. Knowledge of the blood supply and location ofnutrient foramen is important in the treatment and planning of surgery in fractures.