ABSENCE OF DEEP FEMORAL ARTERY: A CASE REPORT

Anatomical variations of the deep femoral artery are widely studied and of great interest to anatomists, surgeons, and interventional radiologists due to their significant clinical relevance. It plays an essential role in the blood supply to the adductor, flexor, and extensor muscles of the thigh, as well as the hip joint and femur, and is also crucial for collateral blood flow between the lower pelvis and the infrapopliteal circulation . Our objective was to report a case of absent deep femoral artery. In our study, anatomical variations were observed in the arteries of the femoral segment, in which the femoral circumflex arteries originated directly from the femoral artery, and the absence of the deep femoral artery was also evidenced, with this variation being classified as type 3. In conclusion, the location and point of origin of the deep femoral artery from the femoral artery are highly variable in the general population. Although several studies indicate that the most common origin is in the posterior region of the thigh, in the proximal third, it is likely that posterior, posterolateral and lateral origins occur with similar prevalence.