An Osteological Study of Nutrient Foramina in Radius and Ulna with Its Embryological and Clinical Significance

Address for Correspondence: Dr Prathap Kumar J, Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Ramaiah Medical College, M S R Nagar, MSRIT post, Mathikere, Bangalore, Karnataka, India560054 E-Mail: [email protected] Background: The knowledge of variations of the position nutrient foramina and hence nutrient arteries is important for the orthopedicians and radiologists for various procedures. The incidence of normal position of nutrient foramina and nutrient artery in the shaft of long bone is 99%. Aims and Objectives: Nutrient artery provides the main source of blood supply to the long bones in the human body. The nutrient artery enters the shaft of the long bones, through a foramen termed ‘nutrient foramen’. The nutrient artery passing through the nutrient foramen plays a pivotal role in the growth and development of the long bones. The presence, position, number, direction and distances from the various landmarks on the bone have clinical significance. The present study was done on the radius and ulna of South Indian population to know the number, position of nutrient foramina and to discuss the embryological basis and clinical significance of the variations. Materials and Methods: The present study consists of forearm bones: 69 radii and 84 ulnae which were taken from Department of Anatomy, Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore, India and studied keenly for the number, position, direction and distance of nutrient foramina in relation to length and from the proximal epiphysis of the long bones were noted with osteometric board and digital vernier calipers and also the direction of nutrient foramina were noted with a probe. Results: The mean position of the nutrient foramen in radius from its upper end was 8.71cms and in ulna was 9.31cms. The main nutrient foramina and the accessory nutrient foramina were directed upwards in all the radii and ulnae studied. The nutrient foramina were present in middle 1/3rd (65.8%), anterior surface (69.6%) for radius and middle 1/3rd (60.7%), anterior surface (77.3%) for ulna. Conclusion: This study will provide the ethnic data for comparison among various populations. It is also helpful in interpretation of radiological images and for orthopedic procedures. Precise knowledge of usual and anomalous position of nutrient foramina and hence the nutrient artery may help the orthopaedician for the internal fixation at appropriate place in the long bone. The location of nutrient foramen is important for bone grafts, tumour resections, in traumas, congenital pseudoarthrosis and more recently in microsurgical vascularised bone transplantation.