A Study on Morphological Features of Nutrient Foramen of the Tibia in Human Population of South Bihar Region

Background: Tibia is weight-bearing long bone. Nutrient arteries are the prime source of blood supply for any long bone including tibia. A study of dimensions and location of nutrient foramen and direction of the nutrient artery canal can give an insight into the role that these arteries play in development and sustenance of bone. The objective of the study was to present the morphological features of nutrient foramen of the tibia in South Bihar region. Materials and Methods: Sixty tibias (30 of each side) were used for the study. Morphometric analysis of bones was done to find out number, position, and direction of nutrient foramen. We did a comparative study of our findings with observation of previous workers. Results: All bones had nutrient foramen. Five percent had double while 95% bones had single foramen. Nutrient canal was directed downward in all bones except one. In 84.13% of bones, nutrient foramen was on the posterior surface; foramen was lateral to the soleal line in 81.13% of these bones. 80.95% of the foramens were situated in the superior third of the tibial shaft. Conclusion: Knowledge about possible variations in number, position, and direction of nutrient canal can be of use for preservation of nutrient vessels during surgical procedures as well as in prognostic evaluation of the treatment given.