Nutrient Foramina in the Upper and Lower Limb Long Bones: Morphometric Study in Bones of Southern Brazilian Adults

the major blood supply to long bones occurs through the nutrient arteries, which enter through the nutrient foramina. this supply is essential during the growing period, during the early phases of ossification, and in procedures such as bone grafts, tumor resections, traumas, congenital pseudoarthrosis, and in transplant techniques in orthopedics. the present study analyzed the location and the number of nutrient foramina in the diaphysis of 885 long bones of the upper and lower limbs of adults: 174 humeri, 157 radii, 146 ulnae, 152 femora, 142 tibiae and 114 fibulae. the location of the nutrient foramina is predominant on the anterior aspect of the upper limb long bones, and on the posterior aspect of the lower limb long bones. the majority of the bones studied had a single nutrient foramen, which may represent a single source of blood supply. the mean foraminal index for the upper limb bones was 55.2% for the humerus, 35.7% for the radius, and 37.9% for the ulna, and for the lower limb bones, 43.7% for the femur, 32.7% for the tibia and 46.1% for the fibula. this study recorded data related to the population of southern brazil, providing ethnic data to be used for comparison and that may help in surgical procedures and in the interpretation of radiological images.