Anatomical variations in the origins of the lateral circumflex femoral arteries in a South African sample: A cadaver study

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 extracranial-intracranial 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. 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. 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. 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.