Variation of lateral circumflex femoral artery and its possible clinical and diagnostic implications

During dissection of right femoral triangle of 75 year old male cadaver fixed in 10% formaline in department of anatomy, abnormal configuration of lateral circumflex femoral artery coupled with variant branching pattern of femoral and profunda femoris arteries were observed. Two lateral circumflex femoral arteries- one from the common stump with profunda femoris artery at a distance of 4.5 cm from inguinal ligament and another from femoral artery directly at a distance of 3.5 cm from the common stump was observed. In addition to this, medial circumflex femoral artery arose directly from femoral artery at a distance of 3.5cm from inguinal ligament. There was no other abnormality in the branching pattern of either femoral artery or profunda femoris artery. Besides the use of femoral, profunda femoris and their branches in various diagnostic and therapeutic procedures by surgeons and radiologists, these rare and common variations may also create iatrogenic complications.