CHARACTERISTICS OF STERNAL ANGLE IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

Abstract

Purpose: the paper is devoted to the study of sternal angle in preschool children. Materials and methods: ultrasonography was used to detect the sternal angle value in 27 children (12 boys and 15 girls) at the age from four to six years, subdivided into 3 groups according to age. Each age-based group included subgroups of boys and girls. Results: it has been established that the sternal angle in preschool children is 189,74 ± 1,29°. Its value for the preschool boys was 189,54 ±1,8°, in girls of the same age group the sternal angle reached 190 ± 1,76°. Summary: performed study has revealed that the sternal angle value in preschool children is sufficiently stable and independent from the child’s age and sex. At the same time, preschool children exhibit individual reclination (up to 25°) of the manubrium relatively to the body of sternum, which should be considered during surgery.

Keywords

• sternal angle
• infants
• ultrasonography