Anthropometry of the black adult tibia: a South African study / Antropometría de la tibia del negro adulto: un estudio sudafricano

The tibia is the medial long bone of the leg and is characterized by a shaft and two expanded extremities. Despite the recent advent of tibial bone graft harvesting, the tibia has also been confirmed to be of great forensic significance. As this appears to be the only tibial dry bone study done in Southern Africa, this study aimed to investigate morphological and morphometric parameters that are of clinical and anthropometric importance. Morphological and morphometric examination of 302 adult tibial bone specimens of Black South Africans obtained from the osteological bank of the Discipline of Clinical Anatomy at the University of KwaZulu-Natal was performed. The sample consisted of 168 males and 134 females with an age range of 15 to 87 years old. The number of nutrient foramina were: (a) One (male: 98.2%; female: 99.3%); (b) Double (male: 1.8%; female: 0.7%); Relationship of nutrient foramen to the soleal line: (a) infero-medial (male: 0.6%; female: 1.5%); (b) inferior but directly opposite the middle of the bone (male: 8.2%; female: 2.2%); (c) infero-lateral (male: 81.8%; female: 88.9%); (d) infero-lateral, along interrosseous crest (male: 4.1%; female: 3.0%); (e) supero-medial (male: 4.7%; female: 3.7%); (f) supero-medial, along interrosseous crest (male: 0.6%; female: 0%); (g) supero-lateral (male: 0%; female: 0.7%). Statistically significant differences were recorded in tibial morphometric parameters between males and females. The relationship between the number of nutrient foramina and the soleal line was of statistical significance (p= 0.002). The greater prevalence of a single foramen observed in this study compared favorably with that reported in previous literature. The recognition of the regional distribution of the nutrient foramina may prevent injury during tibial bone graft procedures. A thorough understanding of the tibial anatomy may also assist with the provision of demographic data required in forensic investigation.

La tibia es el hueso largo y medial de la pierna, con un eje y dos extremos expandidos. Además de ser considerado como posible donante de injerto, se ha confirmado su importancia en el ámbito forense. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar los parámetros morfológicos, morfométricos y antropométricos de la tibia que son de importancia clínica. Se llevó a cabo un examen morfológico y morfométrico de 302 muestras de tibias perteneciente a negros sudafricanos adultos, obtenidas desde el banco osteológico del Departamento de Anatomía Clínica de la Universidad de KwaZulu-Natal. La muestra estuvo constituída por 168 hombres y 134 mujeres, con un rango etario entre 15 y 87 años. El número de forámenes nutricios fueron los siguientes: (a) Únicos (hombres: 98,2%; mujeres 99,3%); (b) Doble (hombres: 1,8%; mujeres: 0,7%). La relación del foramen nutricio con la línea del sóleo fue: (a) infero-medial (hombres: 0,6%; mujeres: 1,5%); (b) inferior y anterior a la mitad inferior del hueso (hombres: 8,2%; mujeres: 2,2%); (c) infero-lateral (hombres= 81,8%; mujeres= 88,9%); (d) infero-lateral, a lo largo del margen interóseo (hombres: 4,1%; mujeres: 3,0%); (e) supero-medial (hombres: 4,7%; mujeres: 3,7%); (f) supero-medial, a lo largo del margen interóseo (hombres: 0,6%; mujeres: 0%); (g) supero-lateral (hombres: 0%; mujeres: 0,7%). Estadísticamente, se registraron diferencias significativas en los parámetros morfométricos tibiales entre hombres y mujeres. La relación entre el número de forámenes nutricios y la línea del sóleo tuvo significación estadística (p= 0,002). La mayor prevalencia de un solo foramen nutricio observada en este estudio, se compara favorablemente con los casos reportados en la literatura analizada. El reconocimiento de la distribución regional de los forámenes nutricios puede evitar lesiones durante los procedimientos de injerto de hueso tibial. Un conocimiento profundo de la anatomía de la tibia también puede aportar datos demográficos necesarios para la investigación forense.

The soleal line in Thais.

A study on the soleal line was performed in 273 tibiae, 136 right and 137 left. The soleal line commences at a point 1-2 cm. below the fibular facet in 83.2 percent of the subjects. It ends slightly below the junction of the upper third with the middle third of the tibia in 85.0 percent of the cases. It generally shows mixed characteristics of a liner line, a wide line, a ridge or a groove in 82.4 percent. Right side or left side of either sex has no difference in accordance with this line. It appears as a ridge in male more than in female and shows a line in female more than in male. In males the characteristic of a ridge was found mostly at the lower third. Totally, the ridge character appears mostly in subjects of 40-49 of years of age, and the degree of the ridge is highest in this age range. The characteristic of a groove was found generally in the middle third, in 4.03 percent of the subjects.