Vol 71, No 1 (2012)
Original article
Submitted: 2012-06-27
Published online: 2012-04-19
Variant origin of the lateral circumflex femoral artery in a black Kenyan population
S.R. Sinkeet, J.A. Ogeng’o, H. Elbusaidy, B.O. Olabu, M.W. Irungu
Folia Morphol 2012;71(1):15-18.
Vol 71, No 1 (2012)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2012-06-27
Published online: 2012-04-19
Abstract
Variant origin of lateral circumflex femoral artery (FA) is important during harvesting of anterolateral thigh flaps, aortopopliteal by-pass, coronary artery grafting, and vascularised iliac transplant. The frequencies of variant origins display ethnic variations, but reports from black Africans are scarce. This study, therefore, aimed to describe the variant origins of lateral circumflex FA in a black Kenyan population. Eighty-four (42 right and 42 left) lateral femoral circumflex
arteries from 42 cadavers (31 male and 11 female) were exposed by dissection
of the femoral triangles at the Department of Human Anatomy, University of Nairobi. The arteries were then traced proximally to their parent trunks. Sites of origin were recorded and representative images of the variations taken using
a high-resolution digital camera. Data were analysed using Statistical Program
for Social Scientists version 16.0 for Windows and presented in tables and
macrographs. The lateral circumflex artery was a branch of the profunda femoris in only 65.5% of cases. Variant origins included from a common trunk with medial circumflex artery (14.3%), with profunda femoris (10.7%), as a trifurcation with profunda femoris and medial circumflex FA (7.1%), and from FA (2.4%). Variant origin of the lateral circumflex FA occured in nearly 35% of the Kenyan population studied, much lower than in oriental populations. The most frequent
variant origin is as a common trunk with medial circumflex femoral and
profunda femoris, with a very low prevalence of origin from FA. The unusual origins make the artery more vulnerable to iatrogenic injury during surgery and catheterisation. Preoperative angiographic evaluation of the femoral arterial system is recommended.
Abstract
Variant origin of lateral circumflex femoral artery (FA) is important during harvesting of anterolateral thigh flaps, aortopopliteal by-pass, coronary artery grafting, and vascularised iliac transplant. The frequencies of variant origins display ethnic variations, but reports from black Africans are scarce. This study, therefore, aimed to describe the variant origins of lateral circumflex FA in a black Kenyan population. Eighty-four (42 right and 42 left) lateral femoral circumflex
arteries from 42 cadavers (31 male and 11 female) were exposed by dissection
of the femoral triangles at the Department of Human Anatomy, University of Nairobi. The arteries were then traced proximally to their parent trunks. Sites of origin were recorded and representative images of the variations taken using
a high-resolution digital camera. Data were analysed using Statistical Program
for Social Scientists version 16.0 for Windows and presented in tables and
macrographs. The lateral circumflex artery was a branch of the profunda femoris in only 65.5% of cases. Variant origins included from a common trunk with medial circumflex artery (14.3%), with profunda femoris (10.7%), as a trifurcation with profunda femoris and medial circumflex FA (7.1%), and from FA (2.4%). Variant origin of the lateral circumflex FA occured in nearly 35% of the Kenyan population studied, much lower than in oriental populations. The most frequent
variant origin is as a common trunk with medial circumflex femoral and
profunda femoris, with a very low prevalence of origin from FA. The unusual origins make the artery more vulnerable to iatrogenic injury during surgery and catheterisation. Preoperative angiographic evaluation of the femoral arterial system is recommended.
Keywords
lateral circumflex femoral artery; origin; Kenyans
Title
Variant origin of the lateral circumflex femoral artery in a black Kenyan population
Journal
Folia Morphologica
Issue
Vol 71, No 1 (2012)
Article type
Original article
Pages
15-18
Published online
2012-04-19
Page views
649
Article views/downloads
1522
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2012;71(1):15-18.
Keywords
lateral circumflex femoral artery
origin
Kenyans
Authors
S.R. Sinkeet
J.A. Ogeng’o
H. Elbusaidy
B.O. Olabu
M.W. Irungu