Total cross-sectional area of the femoral neck nutrient foramina measured to assess arterial vascular beds in the femoral head

Abstract

BackgroundA detailed understanding of the blood supply to the femoral head is required to plan the surgery in the femoral neck and head area. However, information about the blood vessel networks in the femoral head is inadequate.MethodsThe surface of the femoral neck of 100 dry cadaveric adult femur specimens was scanned using a 3D scanner. The scanning distance was 200 mm, precision 0.01 mm, and measuring point 0.04 mm. The images were acquired at a resolution of 1,310,000 pixels. Digital imaging data were recorded from the femoral neck surface. The diameters of the nutrient foramina of the superior, inferior and anterior retinacular arteries, and the ligamentum teres arteries were determined and divided into five groups.ResultsThe mean cumulative cross-sectional area of the nutrient foramina was as follows: canals of the superior, inferior, anterior, and ligamentum retinacular arteries were 15.59 mm2, 3.63 mm2, 4.32 mm2, and 1.58 mm2, respectively. Next, we analyzed the canals of the superior, inferior, anterior and ligamentum retinacular arteries, respectively, via 3D scanner. We found that the canals of the superior retinacular arteries appear to supply more blood to the femoral head than the canals of the other three types of arteries.ConclusionsOur results demonstrated that surgeries of the femoral neck and femoral head will be improved with prior 3D scanning and lead to better outcomes in surgeries involving the hip area.

3D Mapping of Bone Channel of Blood Supply to Femoral Head in Proximal Femur

“…Nevertheless, this approach does not apply to the nutrient foramina since the precision of CT is not sufficient for it. Three-dimensional scanning of the nutrient foramina has higher accuracy and allows the storage of information on the surface of the bone, which can be repeatedly studied; thus, reducing the demand for bone specimens ( 15 ).…”

“…However, current CT scanners used in clinical practice do not meet the criteria for CT reconstruction to observe nutrient foramina ( 8 ). Currently, a 3D scanner can be applied to precisely measure the cross-sectional area of the nutrient foramina in the femoral neck of dry adult femur specimens ( 15 ). In our study, the 3-D model images obtained from a 3D scanner allowed for precise observation of the spatial locations of the nutrient foramina.…”

“…The femur’s proximal surfaces were scanned using a 3D scanner ( 15 ) (Shanghai Digital Manufacturing Corp, Ltd, Shanghai, China), with scanning distance 200 mm, precision 0.01 mm, and measuring point 0.04 mm. The image resolution of 1,310,000 pixels was obtained.…”

Insufficient blood supply of fovea capitis femoris, a risk factor of femoral head osteonecrosis

“…This study collected femoral head specimens comprising intact normal femoral heads and necrotic femoral heads. The dry bone specimens of the femoral head were used as the normal femoral head group, which were obtained from our published study [ 18 ]. The specimens of femoral head necrosis were obtained from two tertiary teaching hospitals, including Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine.…”

“…The vascular supply condition of the femoral neck is determined by the nutrient foramina and is mandatory for the safe execution of surgery around the hip junction [ 13 – 15 ]. Previous observational studies on the nutrient foramina in the human femoral head showed that the size and number of nutrient foramina in the fovea capitis femoris of the human femoral head vary greatly among patients and different regions [ 16 – 18 ].…”