title: Nutrient canal of the fibula.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the radiological features of the nutrient canal in the fibula.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and seventy-nine dried fibulae were studied regarding the type, number, location, and direction of the nutrient canal. They were classified into a usual type (type I: a radiolucent line confined to the cortex) and an atypical type (type II: a radiolucent line extending beyond the cortex).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the total of 230 nutrient canals seen on radiography, 197 (86%) were type I and 33 (14%) were type II. On CT scans, the ossified rim of the canal extended into the medullary cavity in type II canals. The most common site was the posteromedial aspect in both type I and type II canals. Type II canals were significantly more common in fibulae with two or three nutrient canals. The frequency of the upward direction was more common in type II canals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nutrient canals with extension of the ossified rim into the medullary canal are the cause of linear lucency that may simulate a fracture. Their features are slightly different from those of usual canals.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Radiology, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Morioka 020-8505 Japan.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ehara
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tamakawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horiguchi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D016909:Tibial Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed