Korean J Phys Anthropol.  1995 Dec;8(2):99-111. 10.11637/kjpa.1995.8.2.99.

Degenerative Changes of the Coracoacromial Arch in Koreans

• Cho BP

• KMID: 2376332
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11637/kjpa.1995.8.2.99

Abstract

Degenerative changes of the coracoacromial(CA) arch were investigated in 114 dry scapulae from 57(male 35 female 22) Korean cadavers The cadavers were of individuals who had ranged In age from 18 to 97 years(average age of 67) The types of degenerative changes could be classified into facet and spur types Degenerative changes occured in 51.9%(bilateral 29.6% unilateral 22. 2%) of the individuals with both acromions intact and in 41.4% of the scapulae with intact acromion The frequency of degenerative changes was higher m the males but there was no significant difference between the sides Among the scapulae with degenerative changes m the CA arch 43.5% showed single facet type degeneration and both single spur-type and compound degenerative changes occurred in 28.3% respectively of the total number of degenerative changes facet-type degeneration was the most common(67.4%) followed by spur-type on the acromion(34.8%) and spur-type on the coracoid process(28.3%) Frequencies of degenerative changes of the CA arch according to age bracket were 0.0% for 10~39 47.5% for 40~69 and 44.3% for 70~99 Thus it was confirmed that the CA arch is most likely to develop degenerative changes after 40 years of age Profile shapes of the acromion were classified into curved(86.5%) hooked(8.1%) and flat(5.4%) types The incidence of degenerative changes of the CA arch was highest in the curved acromion but the rate of occurrence of the degenerative changes was highest in the hooked acrormion Compared to the normal condition the morphometric characteristics of the scapulae showing degenerative changes of the CA arch were as follows 1) The acromion is wider and the slope of the scapular spine is smaller 2) the angle between the root and the horizontal part of the coracoid process is smaller 3) most diameters of the acromial articular surface and the glenoid cavity are greater.

MeSH Terms

Acromion
Cadaver
Female
Glenoid Cavity
Humans
Incidence
Male
Scapula
Spine