Morphometric parameters of clavicles among adult Black people in Tanzania

Abstract

Morphological clavicular variation has been studied extensively by orthopaedic surgeons, anatomic and forensic experts to explain developmental,  gender and age-related differences. The design of fixation devices for displaced clavicular fracture management depends largely on anatomic  characteristics of clavicle. Eighty-one unpaired clavicles of unknown sex were studied, 42 clavicles were of right side and 39 clavicles of left side. All the clavicles were collected from adult cadavers which were dissected in Departments of Anatomy at Muhimbili and Herbert Kairuki Memorial  Universities. The length of clavicle was measured by a vernier calliper; the middle point of this length was taken as the point where midclavicular circumference was measured with the help of a measuring thread and the angle of curvature of clavicle was measured by using protractors. The  average lengths of the left and right clavicles were 15.23±1.12 cm and 15.43±1.01cm respectively. The average medial angle of curvature of left  clavicle was 155.33° ± 4.39°and that of right clavicle was 153.40° ± 3.96°. The mean total angle of curvature of left clavicle was 293.54˚± 9.55°and the average total angle of curvature of right clavicle was 290.05±8.94°. The average midclavicular circumference of left clavicle was 3.88cm ± 0.33cm and  that of right clavicle was 3.94cm±0.33cm. The right clavicle was longer than the left clavicle, the average medial angle of curvature of left clavicle was greater than medial angle of right clavicle, the average lateral angle of curvature of left clavicle was more than the average lateral angle of  curvature of right clavicle and the mean of midclavicular circumference of right clavicle was greater than that of left clavicle.

Keywords: Morphometric, clavicle, curvatures, circumference