A Comparative Morphometric Analysis of Diaphyseal Nutrient Foramina in the Long Bones of the Forearm and Leg in the North Indian Population

Abstract

Introduction: The nutrient foramen (NF) is the opening in the shaft or diaphysis of a long bone that allows the nutrient artery to enter the medullary cavity, ensuring adequate blood supply to inner parts of the bone, which is critical for bone growth, remodeling, and healing. Knowledge of the location and number of nutrient foramina is essential during bone transplants, resections, or fixations, as in orthopedic surgeries. Ethnic and population variability is observed in the number and size of nutrient foramina among different populations. The study aims to find significant clinical-anatomical correlations of nutrient foramen between the bones of the forearm and leg in the North Indian population by comparative morphometric analysis.

Material and Methods: The present study was conducted on 240 adult long bones of the forearm and leg, 60 each of radius, ulna, tibia, and fibula of unknown sex and age, from the North Indian population, available in the Department of Anatomy, Shri Ram Murti Smarak Institute of Medical Sciences, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh.

Results: The study showed the location of NF in the upper third in 75% of the radius, 70% in the ulna, while in the lower third in 76.6% of the tibia and 66.6% in the fibula. In all radius and ulna, nutrient foramina is directed towards the upper end, while in all tibia and fibula, it is towards the lower end. 91.6% of radius, 86.6% of ulna, 81.6% of tibia, and 91.6% of fibula accepted 26G of needle.

Conclusion: The present study confirms and expands upon existing knowledge of nutrient foramina anatomy by providing population-specific data from North India. This knowledge is crucial not only for academic anatomy but also for clinical applications such as fracture repair and reconstructive surgeries.