Measurement of Proximal Humerus in Korean Adult Skeleton

Chun, Jae Myeung; Chung, Ewy Ryong; Kim, Key Yong

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain basic anatomical data of proximal humerus of Korean adult skeleton.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Fifty-two dry humeri of Korean adults were measured with a caliper and goniometer. Measured parameters were retroversion, angle of the bicipital groove, bicipital groove-shaft angle, neck-shaft angle, diameters of the humeral head, dimension of the greater tuberosity, distance between humeral head and greater tuberosity, and length of the humerus. All of the eight parameters were measured twice. The correlations between retroversion and diameters of the humeral head, retroversion and length of the humerus, retroversion and angle of the bicipital groove, diameters of the humeral head and length of the humerus were analyzed by student t-test using SAS system.
RESULTS
Retroversion was 34.2 degree with high individual variation, ranging from 17.0 degree to 50.0 degree. The angle of the bicipital groove was 36.2 (22.0-54.0) degree. The bicipital groove-shaft angle was 7.4 (1.0- 16.0) degree. The neck-shaft angle was 136.3 (120.0-150.0) degree. The superior-inferior diameter of the humeral head was 43.3 (35.5-52.0) mm, and anterior-posterior diameter was 39.9 (33.5-46.0) mm. The dimension of the greater tuberosity was 29.8 (19.0-46.0) mm, and the distance between humeral head and greater tuberosity was 7.9 (4.5-12.0) mm. The length of the humerus was 303.7 (265.0-388.0) mm. There was significant correlation between the head diameters, the retroversion, and the length, but no correlation between the retroversion and the angle of the bicipital groove.
CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that high individual variation of retroversion should be considered in case of arthroplasty. The humeral head was elliptical in shape. The mean narrow diameter of the humeral head was about 40 mm. The greater tuberosity was about 30 mm in dimension, and located 8 mm inferior to the humeral head. The bicipital groove was not a reliable reference in determining retroversion.