The Morphologic and morphometric investigation of scaphoid bone

The Morphologic and Morphometric Investigation of the Scaphoid Bone Nazlı ÇERİ AKSEKİ AIM. The scaphoid bone is the most commonly fractured carpal bone. Evaluation and treatment of injuries to the scaphoid bone remains one of the most difficult problems in hand surgery. By taking account, the clinical importance of this bone, morphologic and morphometric features of the scaphoid bone is investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS. 42 different parameters defining the morphologic and morphometric characteristics of 200 scaphoid bones were determined and the relationship among these parameters and left and right bones were investigated with statistical analysis. RESULTS. The frequency of the incidences of the morphologic characteristics in the scaphoid bone tubercle, waist, dorsal sulcus, dorsal ridge, dorsal and lateral apex of the ridge, the small ridge, which is the origin of the scapho- capitate interosseous ligament, a groove for flexor carpi radialis tendon were recorded. The tubercle of the scaphoid bone was either conical or piramidal in shape. There was a second (%43) groove besides the main groove. The grooves were then classified in accordance with their numbers, shapes, the localization of the holes on the grooves. There were also holes, outside the dorsal sulcus as well. Three different morphological types of the scaphoid bone were defined. The articular surface of the scapho lunate is either crescent or semilunar in shape. As morphometric characteristics, the lenght of the bones, the wideness in three different locations, thickness, waist circumference, tubercle heights, tubercle base circumference, the lenght and wideness of the main groove and the height of the scapholunate articular surface were measured and analysed. The circumferences of waist and base of the tubercle of the left bones were significantly small. When the relation of these parameters with one another were examined, positive and significant correlations were determined among the lenght of bone; the wideness of distal and proximal; the thickness of the bone; the lenght of the main sulcus, the circumference of waist and tubercle base and the height of the tubercle. On the other hand, in angular measurements, the angles between the axis of sulcus and back ridge of the right scaphoids, as well as the tubercle angles of the left scaphoids were found to be significantly large. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION. Formerly the investigations of the three- dimensional anatomy of the scaphoid bone were not in details. Our study is the first original morphologic and morphometric study in this respect. Given the clinical importance of the scaphoid bone and the problems faced in surgical applications, a thorough knowledge of the morphologic and morphometric characteristics will contribute greatly to surgery. Key words: Scaphoid bone, morphology, morphometry, anatomy. XI