Basic Science
Evaluation of the coracoid and coracoacromial arch geometry on Thiel-embalmed cadavers using the three-dimensional MicroScribe digitizer

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Background

Understanding the geometry of the coracoid and coracoacromial arch will improve surgical intervention in shoulder surgery.

Methods

Thirty pairs of scapulae from 20 female and 10 male deceased donors, average age of 82 years (range, 62-101 years), were scanned and measurements taken using the 3-dimensional (3D) MicroScribe digitizer (Immersion Corp, San Jose CA, USA) and Rhino software (McNeel North America, Seattle, WA, USA).

Results

The following mean angles were determined: coracoid slope, 44° ± 11°; coracoid deviation, 35° ± 6°; coracoid root to glenoid, 115° ± 14°; coracoid head to glenoid, 110° ± 11°; scapular spine angle, 35° ± 6°; and coracoacromial angle, 63° ± 9°. The following mean distances were also determined: coracoid height, 10 ± 3 mm; coracoacromial distance, 42 ± 7 mm; coracoacromial arch height, 20 ± 5 mm; and coracoid (anterior, 29 ± 6 mm; middle, 20 ± 4 mm; posterior tip, 18 ± 6 mm) to the glenoid fossa. The coracoid root-to-glenoid angle was significantly correlated with the coracoacromial angle. In addition, coracoid slope was significantly correlated with coracoid root-to-glenoid angle and also with coracoid deviation. Left shoulders had a significantly higher coracoid-to-glenoid angle (P < .029) than right shoulders. Women had a significantly higher coracoid root-to-glenoid angle than men (P < .042), and men had a significantly higher coracoid deviation (P < .011), anterior (P < .006) and posterior coracoid-to-glenoid distances (P < .03), and coracoacromial arch height (P < .07) than women.

Conclusions

This is the first time that the 3D MicroScribe digitizer has been used to evaluate the geometry of the coracoacromial arch and coracoid process.

Section snippets

Materials and methods

This was a prospective study of 30 pairs of Thiel embalmed scapulae harvested from deceased donors at the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification of the University of Dundee between May and August 2014. The scapulae were obtained from 20 women and 10 men with an average age 82 years (range, 62-101 years). The 60 scapulae were scanned using the 3-dimensional (3D) MicroScribe digitizer (Immersion Corp, San Jose CA, USA; Fig. 1, A), and measurements were taken using Rhino software (McNeel

Results

The Cronbach α reliability coefficient for the intraobserver and interobserver tests on the taken measurements was 1. As indicated by the George and Mallery6 scale (>0.9, excellent), the measurements had relatively high internal consistency.

The 60 specimens were a mean age of 82 ± 9 years (range, 62-101 years). The overall mean and associated standard deviation, together with the range of values for each of the angles and distances measured and for the right and left scapulae, are presented in

Discussion

This study reveals that scapular measurements vary between men and women and also between the right and left sides. The data of this study were collected and analyzed using the 3D MicroScribe digitizer and Rhino software and correspond well with previous studies in which similar measurements have been made.

Conclusion

This is the first time that the 3D MicroScribe digitizer has been used to measure the geometry of the coracoid process of the scapula. The study has shown that the 3D MicroScribe digitizer and Rhino software can be used to determine the relationship between anatomical features of the scapula. By applying novel data collection and analysis techniques and evaluating the data obtained, a contribution to the overall knowledge of the anatomy of the scapula has been presented. The measurement

Acknowledgment

With all respect to the people who donated their bodies for future education, also, many thanks to Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, for supporting Mohammad A. Alobaidy and letting him use its online resources.

Disclaimer

The authors, their immediate families, and any research foundations with which they are affiliated have not received any financial payments or other benefits from any commercial entity related to the subject of this article.

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Ethical Committee approval was not required for this study.

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