Anatomical Study And Morphometric Predictive Factors Of The Supratrochlear Foramen Of The Humerus In A West African Sample

ABSTRACT

Background: The supratrochlear foramen (STF) is the most important anatomical variation of the humerus withgreat significance. However, in our environment, studies are rare and the FST remains almost unknown. Thisresearch aimed to study the prevalence of STF in a West African sample, its morphological characteristics andpredictive factors of its presence.Material and methods: We investigated the presence, shape, side, situation and dimensions of the STF in 142human adult humeri from West African cadavers. The morphometric measurements of the humeri were taken andwe analyzed the predictive factors of the presence of the STF by binary logistic regression.Results: The prevalence of the STF was 36.6%. In the depth of the olecranon fossa, the STF was closer to the medialepicondyle (24.9 ± 2.9 mm) than to the lateral epicondyle (26, 1 ± 2.8mm). The STF occurred in oval (50%), round(25%) triangular (23.1%) and irregular (1.9%) shapes. The mean transverse diameter of the STF was 6.5 ± 2.7 mmand 4.5 ± 1.5 mm for the vertical diameter. Humeri with STF had a significantly lower inter-epicondylar width;higher olecranon fossa width and height; and were significantly predominant on the left. The inter-epicondylarwidth (OR=1.10, P<0.001) and the width of the olecranon fossa (OR=0.81 P<0.001) were associated with theabsence of STF.Conclusion: A third of humeri in our population have STF. This implies that anatomists, anthropologists, orthopedistsand radiologists should be aware of this frequent anatomical variation with great implications.