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Volume 12 Issue 2 ( April- June) 2023

Original Articles

Study of Diaphyseal Nutrient Artery Foramina of Dry Fibula in Human
Dr.RautAtul Chandrashekhar, Dr.Bhavesh Kumar

Background: The present study aims to examine the number, location, topographic distribution, and direction of diaphyseal nutrient foramina in human fibulae to enhance anatomical knowledge for orthopedic, reconstructive, and forensic applications. The findings provide critical insights for surgical procedures such as bone grafting, fracture fixation, and vascularized fibular grafting, where preserving the vascular supply of the fibula is crucial for optimal outcomes.Material and Methods: A total of 120 dry human fibulae of unknown age, sex, and ethnicity were analyzed. Bones with visible fractures, pathological deformities, or indistinct foramina were excluded. Each fibula was examined under adequate lighting to determine the presence, number, and location of nutrient foramina along the diaphysis. The foramina were categorized based on diaphyseal region (upper, middle, lower third) and topographic distribution (anterior, posterior, medial, lateral, and borders). The foraminal index (FI) was calculated to assess the relative position of the foramina. The direction of foramina was also recorded to evaluate its adherence to Schmorl’s rule. Results: The study found that 70.83% of fibulae had a single nutrient foramen, while 25.00% contained multiple foramina, and 4.17% lacked foramina. The middle third of the diaphysis contained the highest proportion of foramina (79.17%), followed by the lower third (12.50%), with the upper third (8.33%) showing the least occurrence. In terms of topographic distribution, the posterior surface exhibited the highest percentage of foramina (29.17%), followed by the medial surface (20.83%) and the lateral surface (16.67%). The foramina were also observed along the interosseous border (8.33%), anterior border (8.33%), and posterior border (4.17%).The foraminal index (FI) analysis showed that 50.00% of foramina fell within the 40-50 range, indicating a predominant location in the middle third of the fibula, followed by 33.33% in the 30-40 range and 12.50% above 50, while 4.17% were below 30. Additionally, the direction of the nutrient foramina was analyzed, revealing that 91.67% of foramina were directed away from the growing end (distal end), in accordance with Schmorl’s rule, while only 8.33% were directed toward the growing end. Conclusion: This study confirms that the majority of nutrient foramina are located in the middle third of the fibula, predominantly on the posterior and medial surfaces, and follow Schmorl’s rule in direction. The anatomical consistency observed in the findings underscores the importance of preserving the fibular nutrient arteries in surgical procedures like bone grafting and fracture fixation. The knowledge of foraminal positioning and vascular supply is essential for enhancing surgical precision, minimizing complications, and improving clinical outcomes.

 
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