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Erschienen in:
21.02.2020 | Original Article
The investigation of the carrying angle of the elbow in fetal period
Erschienen in: Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy | Ausgabe 8/2020
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Purpose
The aim of our study was to determine the carrying angle in human fetuses and to identify variations in carrying angle by gender, fetal age and elbow side in fetal period.
Methods
This study was carried out on 20 dead human fetuses (13 males, 7 females) fixed with formaldehyde, aged between 10–35 weeks of gestation, without external anomalies. Ages of the fetuses were determined according to the general growth parameters. First, the fetus arms were positioned in 180° extension and the forearms were placed in supination. Then the midpoints of the caput humeri, the elbow joint and the wrist were determined. The photographs were taken from the anterior aspect. The distances between the reference points and carrying angles were measured using ImageJ program in the photographs.
Results
The mean ± SD values of carrying angle were 14.18 ± 5.52 and 8.21 ± 4.82 degrees in males and in females, respectively. Although there was no difference between right and left sides within both genders, there was a significant difference between genders (p < 0.05). Gestational age and fetal carrying angle showed a medium negative correlation at the right arm and a weak negative correlation at the left arm.
Conclusion
The existence of a significant difference between fetal carrying angles belong to different genders suggested that the sexual dimorphism of carrying angles may be starting at the early intrauterine period. The carrying angle should be explained with the studies performed in larger series in the prenatal and postnatal periods.