Morphometric study of the distal end of dry adult humerus of the South Indian population with its clinical applications

Background: The arm bone is the largest and strongest bone of the superior extremity. Movement of the arm bone helps in essential activities like writing. lifting objects and throwing. Use of implants in communited cracks in the lower end of the humerus of an aged person may be needed to retain the mobility at the elbow joint. The present study was aimed at providing morphometry of the distal end of the arm bone for comparison with different populations. Materials and Methods: Eight morphometric parameters were evaluated from 200 dry adult humeral bones using the osteometric board and digital vernier calipers. Results: The average value of the maximal length of the arm bone in the present study was 306.3 ± 21.19 mm in the right humerus and 301.1 ± 22.4 mm in the left humerus. The transverse distance between the medial and lateral epicondyles was 57.4 ± 4.8 mm and 56.0 ± 4.7 mm in right and left humerus, respectively. The average distance between the capitulum and medial end of trochlea horizontally was 39.6 ± 3.4 and 39.5 ± 4.3 mm in right and left humerus, respectively. The average maximum transverse diameter of the trochlea was 24.4 ± 2.6 and 23.5 ± 2.6 mm in right and left humerus, respectively. The average anteroposterior diameter of the trochlea was 17.0 ± 3.9 and 16.3 ± 3.7 mm in right and left humerus, respectively. Conclusion: Eight morphometric parameters of 200 humeri presented. This information can be useful for surgeons in preparing implants and reconstruction of fractures of the distal end of the arm bone.