The Morphometric Measurement of Segments of Humerus
Author(s): Zarana A. Ashiyani, Seema Solanki, C. D. Mehta
Abstract
Background: Estimating the stature from bones play an important role in identifying the unknown bodies or skeletal remains. Anthropometric techniques have been commonly used to estimate stature from the skeletal remains by anthropologists and anatomists for over a hundred years. Knowledge of the mean values of segments of long bone like humerus is very helpful for the investigator to define the identity of a skeleton and also helps to make the various implants for the reconstructive surgery of fractures of humerus.
Objectives: To determine the value of measurements of various segments of humerus in the Indian population & compare the findings with other populations as well as to provide data for prosthesis formation.
Material and method: The study was conducted on 100 dry humeri bones. Total length of humerus is measured with osteometric board and 5 distal segments of humerus are measured with Vernier calliper.
Result: In our study, we observed that mean values of the total humerus length is 30.32 ± 1.58 cm and 30.39 ± 1.66 cm on the left and right side respectively. We found mean value of five distal segments of humerus as mentioned below: D1-5.66 ± 0.36 & 5.58 ± 0.42 cm on right & left side respectively; D2-3.87 ± 0.25 & 3.90 ± 0.30 cm on right & left side respectively; D3-2.26 ± 0.18 & 2.24 ± 0.20 cm on right & left side respectively; D4-5.42 ± 0.33 & 5.39 ± 0.41 cm on right & left side respectively; D5-1.45 ± 0.15 & 1.45 ± 0.17 cm on right & left side respectively.
Conclusion: The study provides morphometric data of distal end of humerus, which will be helpful to place the various implants in the reconstructive surgery of humerus fractures. The length of humerus in Indian population is similar to that of Turkish & Brazilian population values.