Abstract:

Introduction: The blood supply to the long bones constitutes the nutrient artery. Anatomically the nutrient artery that supply to the tibia is a branch of posterior tibial artery mostly and in few cases it can be a branch of peroneal artery. The nutrient artery is the most important artery that supply to the cortical bone. Especially, during the development of fetus and beginning of the process of bone ossification, the role of nutrient artery is immense as it is the only source of blood supply to long bone. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive study conducted in the Department of Anatomy, M.G.M. Medical College, Jamshedpur from January 2020 to December 2020. Sample selection was done according to the study of Chavda H.S and Jethva N K. For this study 80 dry adult tibiae available in the department were used. The age and sex were unknown. Fully ossified and complete bones were included in the study. Bones with pathological changes or any kind of deformity were excluded from the study. The right and left limb bones were measured. The total length of each tibia from the uppermost point on the superior surface of tibia to the lower end was measured using an vernier caliper. Results: In the present study 75 (93%) of tibiae showed presence of PNF. It was directed downwards and was located on the posterior surface of tibia. 39 of the 43 right tibiae had single PNF, 1 right tibia had 2 NF: one primary and one secondary, the secondary NF was directed upwards. 36 of the 37 left tibiae had single PNF, in one left tibia 2 NF was observed: one primary and one secondary, the secondary NF was directed upwards. NF was not observed in two bones on right side (2 %) and one bone on the left side (1 %). Number of NF, number and percentage of bones are tabulated in Table 2. 84 % of the PNF was located on the posterior surface of the middle segment. 13.3 % of the PNF was located on the posterior surface of the upper segment of the tibia (Table 3). All the PNF were directed downwards whereas SNF were directed upwards, and they were located in the lower segment. Conclusion: It is very important for surgeons to have sound knowledge of precise topography of nutrient foramen which will help in preserving vasculature of the bone during various surgical procedures like fracture fixation, bone grafting, knee replacement surgeries and tumour resection. Understanding of exact location and distribution of nutrient foramen will help in avoiding damage to nutrient vessels during surgery. This will ensure less post-operative complications, as well as this helps in better outcome of operative procedure.

Keywords: