A Morphometric Study of Supratrochlear Foramen of the Humerus in Western Indian Dry Bone Sample

Address for Correspondence: Dr. Mohini M Joshi, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, Rural Medical College, Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences, Loni, Dist. Ahmadnagar Maharashtra, India. Mobile No: +919762601050 E-Mail: [email protected] Background: In the distal end of humerus, the coronoid fossa in front and the olecranon fossa behind is separated by a thin lamina of bone, the coronoidolecranon septum (COS). This thin plate of bone sometimes become transparent or perforated in some cases and give rise to a foramen called septal aperture or commonly known as supratrochlear foramen (STF). Objective: The present study describes the incidence, different shapes, morphological features, and clinical importance of foramen in the humerus of Western Indian population. Materials and Methods: The presence of supratrochlear foramen was studied in 85 dry adult humeri of unknown sex and of both sides. A total of 170 (85 right sided and 85 left sided) Adult human dried humeri were obtained. Mean and standard deviations for different measurement of foramina was calculated. Unpaired t test was applied to test the significance of difference of different measurements of the foramen of the humerus between left and right side. Results: Out of total 170 humeri studied STF were present in 61(35.88%) humeri. Most of foramen were oval shaped that is 32(37.64) on left side and 08(9.41%) on right side. Most of septum on left side 27 (31.76%) and right side of humeri 35 (41.17%) were having translucent septum. Difference between measurements of vertical and transverse diameter of right and left sided foramina were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Difference between measurements of distance of foramen from medial epicondyle and lateral epicondyle and midpoint of trochlea on right and left sides were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusions: The supratrochlear foramen has much clinical importance. The foramen should be kept in mind during any surgical or radiological intervention to aid in proper diagnosis and treatment.