Morphological study of nutrient foramina of human radius and their clinical importance

Background: Radius is the lateral bone of forearm. It has anterior, interosseus and posterior surface. Anterior surface bears a nutrient canal at the upper end transmitting nutrient artery. Nutrient artery is the major source of blood supply of long bones mainly during growing period and early phase of ossification. Aim and objectives: Nutrient foramina is essential for nutrition and growth for long bones and also for survival of osteocytes in some procedures such as bone graft, tumor resection, congenital pseudo-arthrosis, trauma and transplant techniques in orthopaedics. Study of nutrient foramina is important not only in academic purpose but also useful in medico-legal cases in relation to their position. Materials and methods: Present study was conducted in the department of Anatomy, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar. 110 dry adult and macerated human radii were selected for study. Results: In this study, out of 110 radii, 108 radii had single foramina and 2 radii had double nutrient foramina. Foraminal index was calculated which indicating nutrient foramina was near to the upper end. Conclusion: Nutrient foramen in radius was near to the upper end, so the lower end of radius is the growing end.