An analysis of the variations and clinical applications of the lateral circumflex femoral artery.
BACKGROUND
Identifying the arterial variation of the lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA) is a vital step in planning surgical and radiological approach. The aim of the study was to evaluate the variations and discuss the clinical correlates of the LCFA.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
Fifty eight adult cadavers (male 45, female 13) with 115 usable sides were used to assess and classify the origin and branches of the LCFA. Also its external diameter, distance from mid-inguinal ligament to sites of origin from the profunda femoris artery or femoral arteries.


RESULTS
There were seven types of LCFA variations in this sample. We classified them as types A to G, of which type A was normal, that is, the one showing a single LCFA arising from the profunda femoris artery. Nearly 50.43% of the sample had type B-G variations, each having 13, 10, 23, 4, 4, and 3 cases, accounting for 11.30%, 8.70%, 20.00%, 3.48%, 3.48%, and 2.61%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
There are many variant types in the LCFA. To avoid iatrogenic injuries, clinicians must have a sound understanding of the variation types of this important blood vessel.
['Ma|M|M|', 'Sang|H|H|', 'Ye|Y|Y|', 'Zhuang|H|H|', 'Zhuang|Z|Z|', 'Qiu|Y|Y|', 'Li|X|X|', 'Xu|D|D|', 'Jiang|M H|MH|']
D000328:Adult D001012:Aorta, Abdominal D002102:Cadaver D005260:Female D005263:Femoral Artery D006801:Humans D008297:Male D013848:Thigh
variation lateral circumflex femoral artery anatomy clinical significance