Number and localisation of nutrient foramen on clavicle and its relationship with other clavicle parameters

Nutrient foramen (NF) is a hole in the long bones that allows the passage of the nutrient artery. The vasculature of the bone is very important for fracture healing and vascularised bone grafting. Therefore, information about the location and number of NFs is important for surgical and clinical practice. The clavicle is the most commonly fractured bone. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between the location and number of NFs on the clavicle and other clavicle parameters.

This study was performed on 86 dry clavicles of contemporary adult individuals without age and gender records. Some clavicle parameters and NF parameters were measured and the relationship between them was analysed. Measurements were performed using a digital caliper.

Most of the clavicles had a single NF. There was a positive correlation between DFant/DFpost (distance between NF and anterior border/distance between NF and posterior border) and vertical thickness of sternal end (VTs), vertical thickness of thinnest point (VTt) and clavicular thinnest point index (CIt) in all cases (p < 0.05). Sagittal thickness of acromial end (STa), vertical thickness of clavicle (VTc), sagittal thickness of clavicle (STc), and sagittal thickness of thinnest point (STt) were associated with NF counts. The most common localisation of NFs was type 2. The NFs were mostly located in the inferior position.

Relationships between the number and morphometric characteristics of NFs and some clavicle parameters were determined. We suggest that knowledge of the number and morphometric characteristics of NFs is important for the protection of the nutrient artery in orthopaedic surgery applications.