A Study of Morphology of the Glenoid Cavity

Abstract

AIM:A morphometric study of the glenoid cavity of 80 adult dry human scapulae in North Indian Population was done to evaluate the various parameters of the glenoid cavity. MATERIAL AND METHODS:This study was done on 80 dry, unpaired adult human scapulae (41 right & 39 left) of unknown sex belonging to the North Indian population. Maximum superior-inferior diameter and Maximum anterior-posterior diameter of the glenoid cavity were measured and Glenoid cavity index was calculated. The shape of the glenoid cavity was classified as inverted comma shaped, pear shaped and oval shaped depending upon the presence or absence of a notch on the glenoid rim. RESULTS: The average superior-inferior diameter on right and the left sides were 34.13±3.16 mm and 34.11± 2.57 mm respectively. The average anterior-posterior diameter of the right glenoid was 24.05± 2.86 mm and that of the left was 23.36 ± 2.22 mm. The average glenoid cavity index on the right was 70.37 ± 4.08 and that of left was 68.59 ± 4.36. All values were compared with series of other workers to draw the conclusions. CONCLUSIONS: All the parameters showed a greater value for the right side. The difference seen between the values of present study and that of other workers could be explained on the basis of ethnic and racial variations. This fact may be taken into consideration while performing shoulder arthroplasty and designing glenoid prostheses in North Indian population. The current study recorded 80% of glenoid cavities having the glenoid notch, which could be useful while diagnosing different pathologies of the shoulder joint. Thus a sound knowledge of various parameters of the glenoid cavity is important for the anatomists, anthropologists, orthopaedicians and prosthetists. KEYWORDS: Glenoid cavity, Scapula, Glenohumeral joint, Morphometry. INTRODUCTION:The scapula is a large, flat, triangular bone which lies on the posterolateral aspect of the chest wall, covering parts of second to seventh ribs. Its lateral angle, truncated and broad, bears the glenoid cavity which articulates with the head of the humerus at the glenohumeral joint and may be regarded as the head of the scapula. 1 The morphology of the glenoid cavity is highly variable. The glenoid rim presents a notch in its upper and front part. 2 Due to presence of this glenoid notch, various shapes of glenoid cavity are found like pear-shaped, oval or inverted comma shaped. 3,4 The disproportionate sizes of the head of the humerus and the small, shallow glenoid cavity combined with a lax articular capsule give this joint a wide range of movements but make the joint inherently unstable. 5 The shoulder joint is the most frequently dislocated joint in the body.Dynamic factors of the rotator cuff muscles and the static factors of the gleno-humeral ligaments, the labrum and the joint capsule play a role in glenohumeral joint stability. Alignment of the humerus and the glenoid articular surfaces is one of the predisposing factors for glenohumeral joint instability which is one of the predisposing fa...

Study of Glenoid Cavity of Human Scapula and Its Clinical Importance

“…Polguj M et al [15] noted the combined GCI to be 72.35±5.55, which was higher than the present study. The mean cavity index of 70.37±4.08% on right side while 68.59±4.36% on left side recorded by Dhindsa et al [16] were found very close to present study.…”

Morphometric study of Scapular glenoid cavity in Indian population

“…Middernacht et al [8] noted it as 37.3 mm and Coskun et al [9] as 36.3 mm. (Table 3) The mean AP1 diameter measured as the maximum diameter in the lower half of glenoid cavity was 24 mm in the present study which is similar to the observations by Mamatha et al [1] (23.2 mm), Rajput et al [6] (23.11 mm) and Dhindsa et al [7] (23.70 mm). Middernacht et al [8] observed it as 27.9 mm and Coskun et al [9] as 24.6 mm.…”

“…[6] The mean height of the glenoid cavity in the present study was 35.16 mm, Mamatha et al [1] observed it as 33.79 mm, Rajput et al [6] as 34.59 mm. and Dhindsa et al [7] as 34.24 mm. Middernacht et al [8] noted it as 37.3 mm and Coskun et al [9] as 36.3 mm.…”

Morphometry and Morphology of Glenoid Cavity of Scapula

“…The data were then entered and analysed using the Microsoft Excel 2010. Dhindsa GS et al (2014) [15] Patil et al (2014) [17] Present study (2015) The present study was performed on dry human scapulae. The comparison of data between present study and previous studies found several differences as well as similarities in the dimensions of the scapula and glenoid cavity (Table 3).…”