A rare variation of the arteria circumflexa femoris lateralis: A case report

Abstract

The objective of this study is to report on the distinct origin characteristics of the branches of the lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA) and provide guidance for physicians working in this region. During the period of 2021 to 2022, while studying the femoral artery (FA) and its branches on formalin-fixed cadavers in the Department of Anatomy of our Faculty, a case of separate origin of the descending branch of the LCFA was observed on the anterior aspect of the left thigh of a 70-year-old female cadaver. The descending branch of the LCFA originated separately. It originated from the deep femoral artery (DFA) anterolaterally; 0.7 cm distal to DFA’s origin. The common root branch of the LCFA originated posterolaterally, 1.8 cm distal to it. The diameter of the descending branch was 0.35 cm, and the root branch was 0.4 cm. The distance of the descending branch to the mid-inguinal point was 3.2 cm, while the distance of the root branch was 5 cm. The root branch divided into ascending and transverse branches after passing 1.2 cm laterally. The ascending branch had a diameter of 0.25 cm, while the transverse branch had a diameter of 0.23 cm. The medial circumflex femoral artery emerged from the DFA as a thin branch. The literature reports a frequency of 0.6% to 4% for separation of the descending branch of the LCFA. The branches of the LCFA are commonly utilized in the clinic as anterolateral pedicled tissue flaps, as grafts in various bypass surgeries, and as collateral arteries in cases of inadequate blood supply. Additionally, it is known to be used in vascularized iliac transplantation.

Keywords

• cadaver
• dissection
• lateral circumflex femoral artery
• variations

Arteria Circumflexa Femoris Lateralis’in Az Görülen Bir Varyasyonu: Olgu Sunumu

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı arteria circumflexa femoris lateralis (ACFL)’in dallarının farklı çıkış özelliklerini bildirmek ve bu bölgede çalışacak olan hekimlere yol göstermektir. 2021-2022 yılları arasında, fakültemizin Anatomi Anabilim Dalı’nda arteria femoralis (AF) ve dallarının incelenmesi ile ilgili, formalin ile fikse edilmiş kadavralarda yapılan çalışma sırasında, 70 yaşındaki bir kadın kadavranın sol uyluk ön yüzünde, ACFL’nin inen dalının ayrı çıktığı bir olgu görüldü. Bu olguda ACFL’nin inen dalı, ayrı çıkışlı olarak, arteria profunda femoris (APF)’ten ve APF’nin çıkış noktasının 0,7 cm distalinde, anterolateralden çıkmaktaydı. ACFL’nin ortak kök halinde çıkan dalı ise APF’nin 1,8 cm distalinde, posterolateralden çıkmaktaydı. Çapları ölçüldüğünde inen dal 0,35 cm, kök dal ise 0,4 cm idi. İnen dalın mid-inguinal noktaya olan uzaklığı 3,2 cm iken, kök dalın uzaklığı 5 cm idi. Ortak kök halindeki dal laterale doğru 1,2 cm seyredip, çıkan ve transvers dallara ayrılmaktaydı. Çıkan dal 0,25 cm çapında iken, transvers dal 0,23 cm çapındaydı. Arteria circumflexa femoris medialis ise APF’den ince bir dal olarak çıkmaktaydı. Literatürde ACFL’nin inen dalının ayrı çıkışı %0,6 ile %4 sıklıkta bildirilmiştir. ACFL’nin dalları, klinikte sıklıkla anterolateral pediküllü doku flebi olarak, çeşitli bypass cerrahilerinde greft olarak ve kanlanma yetersizliğinde kollateral arter olarak kullanılabilmektedir. Ayrıca vaskülarize iliak transplantasyonda da kullanıldığı bilinen bu arterin, varyasyonlarının göz önünde bulundurulması tanı ve tedavide hekimlere yardımcı olacaktır.

Keywords

• arteria circumflexa femoris lateralis
• disseksiyon
• kadavra

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