Top

Published in:

Open Access 01-01-2017 | Original Article

Number and distribution of nutrient foramina within the femoral neck and their relationship to the retinacula of Weitbrecht: an anatomical study

Authors: Jiong Mei, Ming Ni, Guoliang Wang, Guangyao Jia, Shiwei Liu, Xueliang Cui, Chao Jiang, Hua Wang, Yahui Dai, Kun Quan, Rui Chen

Published in: Anatomical Science International | Issue 1/2017

Abstract

Precise knowledge of the vascular supply of the femoral head is critical when contemplating surgery around the femoral head and neck junction. To determine the blood supply to the femoral neck, 2417 nutrient foramina from 76 cadaveric specimens were analyzed based on size, number, and distribution. Within the subcapital, transcervical, and basicervical regions of the femoral neck, the largest numbers of nutrient foramina were found on the superior (lateral) surface, followed by the anterior and posterior surfaces, and then the inferior (medial) surface (all p < 0.001). The diameters of most of the nutrient foramina were less than 1 mm. For the posterior and superior surfaces, the nutrient foramina in the basicervical region were significantly larger than those within the transcervical or subcapital regions (nutrient foramina >2 mm posteriorly: 23.6, 12.7, and 9.0 % in the basicervical, transcervical, and subcapital regions, respectively; superiorly: 23.7 vs. 15.4 vs. 16.8 %, respectively). In conclusion, neither the anterior nor the inferior surfaces in the basicervical, transcervical, and subcapital regions showed any significant differences in nutrient foraminal size. The areas containing densely distributed nutrient foramina were consistent with the regions covered by the retinacula of Weitbrecht.

Arnoldi CC, Lemperg RK (1977) Fracture of the femoral neck. II. Relative importance of primary vascular damage and surgical procedure for the development of necrosis of the femoral head. Clin Orthop Relat Res 129:217–222CrossRef

Barnes R, Brown JT, Garden RS, Nicoll EA (1976) Subcapital fractures of the femur. A prospective review. J Bone Joint Surg Br 58(1):2–24PubMed

Bartonícek J (1990) Weitbrecht’s retinacula of the hip joint. Acta Chir Orthop Traumatol Cech 57(5):385–391 (article in Czech)

Bridgeman G, Brookes M (1996) Blood supply to the human femoral diaphysis in youth and senescence. J Anat 188(Pt 3):611–621PubMedPubMedCentral

Canale ST (1998) Campbell’s operative orthopaedics. Mosby-Year Book, St. Louis

Chung SM (1976) The arterial supply of the developing proximal end of the human femur. J Bone Joint Surg Am 58(7):961–970CrossRefPubMed

Cooper DM, Turinsky AL, Sensen CW, Hallgrímsson B (2003) Quantitative 3D analysis of the canal network in cortical bone by micro-computed tomography. Anat Rec B New Anat 274(1):169–179CrossRefPubMed

Davidovitch RI, Jordan CJ, Egol KA, Vrahas MS (2010) Challenges in the treatment of femoral neck fractures in the nonelderly adult. J Trauma 68(1):236–242CrossRefPubMed

Gojda J, Bartoníček J (2012) The retinacula of Weitbrecht in the adult hip. Surg Radiol Anat 34(1):31–38CrossRefPubMed

Guli ZA, Tan W, Yang Y, Liu G-Y, Huang W-H (2012) Anatomic study and clinical significance of the retinacula of femoral neck. Zhongguo jie pou xue hui 30(6):625–628 (article in Chinese)

Howe WW Jr, Lacey T, Schwartz RP (1950) A study of the gross anatomy of the arteries supplying the proximal portion of the femur and the acetabulum. J Bone Joint Surg Am 32A(4):856–866CrossRef

Imre N, Battal B, Acikel CH, Akgun V, Comert A, Yazar F (2012) The demonstration of the number, course, and the location of nutrient artery canals of the femur by multidetector computed tomography. Surg Radiol Anat 34(5):427–432CrossRefPubMed

Jung A, Wurtz JP, Randrianarivo P (1965) Arterial circulatory modifications in aseptic necrosis of the hip and in epiphysiolysis. Mem Acad Chir (Paris) 91(15):489–506 (article in French)

Kizilkanat E, Boyan N, Ozsahin ET, Soames R, Oguz O (2007) Location, number and clinical significance of nutrient foramina in human long bones. Ann Anat 189(1):87–95CrossRefPubMed

Lavigne M, Kalhor M, Beck M, Ganz R, Leunig M (2005) Distribution of vascular foramina around the femoral head and neck junction: relevance for conservative intracapsular procedures of the hip. Orthop Clin North Am 36(2):171–176

Lu-Yao GL, Keller RB, Littenberg B, Wennberg JE (1994) Outcomes after displaced fractures of the femoral neck. A meta-analysis of one hundred and six published reports. J Bone Joint Surg Am 76(1):15–25CrossRefPubMed

Murlimanju B, Prashanth K, Prabhu LV, Chettiar GK, Pai MM, Dhananjaya K (2011a) Morphological and topographical anatomy of nutrient foramina in the lower limb long bones and its clinical importance. Australas Med J 4(10):530–537CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Murlimanju BV, Prabhu LV, Pai MM, Yadav A, Dhananjaya KV, Prashanth KU (2011b) Neurovascular foramina of the human clavicle and their clinical significance. Surg Radiol Anat 33(8):679–682CrossRefPubMed

Murlimanju BV, Prashanth KU, Prabhu LV, Saralaya VV, Pai MM, Rai R (2011c) Morphological and topographical anatomy of nutrient foramina in human upper limb long bones and their surgical importance. Rom J Morphol Embryol 52(3):859–862PubMed

Noriyasu S, Suzuki T, Sato E, Sato T (1993) On the morphology and frequency of Weitbrecht’s retinacula in the hip joint. Okajimas Folia Anat Jpn 70(2–3):87–90CrossRefPubMed

Ogden JA (1974) Changing patterns of proximal femoral vascularity. J Bone Joint Surg Am 56(5):941–950CrossRefPubMed

Santolini E, Goumenos SD, Giannoudi M, Sanguineti F, Stella M, Giannoudis PV (2014) Femoral and tibial blood supply: a trigger for non-union? Injury 45(11):1665–1673CrossRefPubMed

Secitt S, Thompson RG (1965) The distribution and anastomoses of arteries supplying the head and neck of the femur. J Bone Joint Surg Br 47:560–573

Toh EM, Sahni V, Acharya A, Denton JS (2004) Management of intracapsular femoral neck fractures in the elderly; is it time to rethink our strategy? Injury 35(2):125–129CrossRefPubMed

Trueta J, Harrison MH (1953) The normal vascular anatomy of the femoral head in adult man. J Bone Joint Surg Br 35B(3):442–461

Tucker FR (1949) Arterial supply to the femoral head and its clinical importance. J Bone Joint Surg Br 31B(1):82–93PubMed

Wright JG (2009) Evidence-based orthopaedics: the best answers to clinical questions. Saunders Elsevier, Philadelphia

Title: Number and distribution of nutrient foramina within the femoral neck and their relationship to the retinacula of Weitbrecht: an anatomical study
Authors: Jiong Mei
Ming Ni
Guoliang Wang
Guangyao Jia
Shiwei Liu
Xueliang Cui
Chao Jiang
Hua Wang
Yahui Dai
Kun Quan
Rui Chen
Publication date: 01-01-2017
Publisher: Springer Japan
Published in: Anatomical Science International / Issue 1/2017
Print ISSN: 1447-6959
Electronic ISSN: 1447-073X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-015-0319-5

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Number and distribution of nutrient foramina within the femoral neck and their relationship to the retinacula of Weitbrecht: an anatomical study

Abstract

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2017

Anatomic variation in the pterygopalatine angle of the maxillary sinus and the maxillary bulla

Molecular mechanisms of experience-dependent structural and functional plasticity in the brain

Regulation of lipid metabolism via a connection between the endoplasmic reticulum and lipid droplets

Duplication of the inferior vena cava from a division of the left external iliac vein

Exercise-induced hypoalgesia: potential mechanisms in animal models of neuropathic pain

Renaissance of morphological studies: the examination of functional structures in living animal organs using the in vivo cryotechnique