Abstract:
BACKGROUND : Clinically, the lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA) is used in a variety of procedures, these
include anterolateral thigh flaps, aortopopliteal bypass, coronary artery bypass grafting and extracranialintracranial bypass surgeries. Variations in the anatomy of the LCFA, profunda femoris artery (PFA) and their
branches have been noted in several studies. There are numerous clinical implications related to the inadequate
anatomical knowledge of this region.
METHODS : The study sample consisted of 55 cadavers of different ages, ancestry groups and varying body mass
index. A total of 90 legs were dissected. The anterior thigh compartment was dissected and the common femoral
artery (CFA), superficial femoral artery (SFA), PFA and LCFA further exposed. The course and variations were
noted and results documented for further analysis.
RESULTS : The LCFA was present in all the legs dissected. The origin of the LCFA was found to be the PFA in 75.6%
of the left legs and 82.2% of the right legs dissected.
In two cases, a male and female limb, the branching of the PFA from the CFA was observed directly from the
external iliac artery, deep to the inguinal ligament.
A variation was noted in a female cadaver, where the branches of the LCFA on the left limb had different points of
origin. Another variation was noted on a male cadaver, the left limb had two different points of branching for the
ascending and descending branches of the LCFA, a common trunk was absent.
CONCLUSION : This study indicates that the most common site of origin for the LCFA was the PFA. The branching of
the PFA from the CFA was found to be variable in 2.2% of the cases, where the PFA was a direct branch of the
external iliac artery. The study also noted variations relating to the origin of the transverse branch of the LCFA,
this branch was absent in 4.4% of the limbs dissected.
Knowledge of the variations related to the origin of the PFA, LCFA and their branches is important in reducing
the chances of intra-operative bleeding, during different surgical procedures.
