A Morphological and Morphometric Study of Glenoid Fossa of Scapula and its Implication in Shoulder Arthroplasty

Abstract

Introduction: Glenoid fossa of scapula articulates with the head of humerus and forms gleno-humeral joint (shoulder Joint). So, the knowledge of various shapes and size of glenoid fossa is useful to clinician for better understanding of various diseases associated with the joint and also helpful to orthropaedician to choose the right prosthesis for shoulder replacement surgeries. Aim: To observe the shape and to measure the various diameters of glenoid fossa in adult dry human scapulae. Materials and Methods: Total of 100 dry adult human scapulae of unknown sex and age were obtained from the museum of anatomy and forensic medicine and were included in present study. Out of total 100 scapulae, 56 were of right side and 44 were of left side. Various shapes of glenoid fossa were observed on the basis of presence or absence of notch. Morphometric parameters such as Superio-Inferior Diameter (SI), Anterio-Posterior Diameter-1 (AP-1) and Anterio-Posterior Diameter-2 (AP-2) were measured by digital Vernier caliper. All the parameters were tabulated and analysed statistically. Results: In the present study most common shape of glenoid fossa was Pear shape that is 44% (42.9% on right, 45.5% on left), followed by oval shape in 34% (35.7% on right, 31.8% on left side) and inverted comma shape in 22% scapulae (21.4% on right side, 22.7% on left side). The mean measured values in total scapulae were; SI diameter was 34.24±3.27 mm, AP-1 diameter was 23.93±2.67 mm, AP-2 diameter was 12.96±1.84 mm and glenoid cavity index was 70.12±7.13 mm. Conclusion: Morphological and Morphometric analysis of glenod fossa of scapula help clinicians and orthropaedicians in shoulder arthroplasty and its associated shoulder diseases.

Keywords

• glenoid cavity index
• gleno-humeral joint
• glenoid cavity
• humerus
• shoulder joint