Morphological study of nutrient foramen in adult human clavicles

Abstract

Introduction: The Clavicle is a modified long bone and only long bone which is placed horizontally and subcutaneously at the root of neck. It transmits the weight from upper limb to the axial skeleton. Nutrient foramen is the largest foramen on the long bones through which nutrient artery for the bones passes. The nutrient artery is the principal source of blood supply to a long bone, particularly important during its active growth period in the embryo and foetus, as well as during the early phase of ossification. The bone has a cylindrical part called the shaft and two ends, lateral and medial. The shaft is divisible into the lateral one-third and the medial two-thirds. The inferior surface of shaft of clavicle presents a subclavian groove. A Nutrient foramen lies at the lateral end of the groove running in a lateral direction. Aims & objectives: To note the position, number and direction of nutrient foramen Materials and Methods: The present study was performed on 100 adult human clavicles of unknown sex and age collected from the department of anatomy, Mysore medical college and research institute, Mysore. Clavicles were examined by direct observation to note the position, number and direction of nutrient foramen. A magnifying lens was used to observe the foramina. Results: The study was conducted on 100 adult human clavicles (50 right and 50 left), and we observed the following results: Nutrient foramina were present in 97 clavicles - 49 clavicles (right) and 48 clavicles (left). Single foramina was present in 80 clavicles, 41 clavicles (right) and 39 clavicles (left) Double foramina were present in 17 clavicles, 8 clavicles (right) and 9 clavicles (left). Absence of nutrient foramina were found in 3 clavicles, 1 clavicle (right) and 2 clavicles (left). All foramina were directed towards the acromial end of the clavicle. Conclusion: The knowledge of anatomical variations of nutrient foramina in clavicles are important for surgeons for performing surgical procedures like bone grafting and microsurgical vascularised bone transplantation. KEY WORDS: Clavicle, Nutrient Foramen, Bone Graft.

The investigation of the number and localization of the foramen nutricium on the clavicle and its relationship with other clavicular parameters

“…There was no FN in 3 clavicles (3.5%) in our study. Sharmada et al [24] found that there was no FN in 3 of 104 clavicles (2.88%) and Dakshayani et al [7] found that there was no FN in 3 of 100 clavicles (3%), and these ndings are compatible with our study. However, Cihan et al [6] reported that there was no FN in 6 of 61 clavicles (9.8%) and Kumar et al [14] reported that there was no FN in 10 of 102 clavicles (9.8%).…”

“…Preserving the nutrient artery during surgical reductions and internal xation device applications is important for post-surgical recovery. Additionally, in the development of new transplantation and resection techniques and free vascularized bone grafts, preserving the nutrient artery entering the bone in FN is necessary for surgical success [7]. Therefore, information about the location and number of FN, where the nutrient artery enters the bone tissue, is surgically and clinically important.…”

“…However, in the study conducted by Havet et al [9], an FN marked by a branch of the suprascapular artery was detected on the inferior surface of the clavicle. On the other hand, many studies have been conducted on the morphometric features, localization, position and variations of FN on the clavicle [7,14,15,21,24,27]. Likewise, there are many studies on the morphological and morphometric features of the clavicle [2-4, 19, 28].…”