We scrutinized the position of the superficial femoral artery in various hip position using noninvasive method in thirty thighs.

In twenty-two patients (thirty thighs), the distances between superficial femoral artery and medial aspect of the femur were measured in the neutral position (D1), adduction 20o (D2), and adduction and internal rotation 20o (D3) by color-flow duplex scanning. Relationship of these three distances were analysed using ANOVA method. Pearson correlation coefficients (PCC) were checked for age, sex, body weight, and mid thigh circumference (MTC).

The distances decreased in D2 (12.7mm) and D3 (10.9mm) compared to D1 (20.9mm) in all cases (p=0.0001). MTC was significantly correlated with the three distances[PCC of MTC: 0.50 in D1, 0.52 in D2, and 0.36 in D3 - p<0.05].

Based on our results, it is recommended that the limb must be maintained in neutral position during preparation of the screw holes or the interlocking hole in management of hip fractures.