Morphometry of Glenoid Using Digital Photographs and Image Processing Software

Address for Correspondence: Dr. Uma S.V, Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Sapthagiri institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, No.15,chikkasandra,Hesarghatta main road, Bangalore-560090, Karnataka, India. E-Mail: [email protected] Background: A good understanding of morphometry of glenoid cavity of the scapulae is essential for proper designing of glenoid prosthesis. Moreover the anatomical basis and variations of shape and size of glenoid cavity of scapula is of fundamental importance in understanding of rotator cuff disease, shoulder dislocation and to decide the proper size of the glenoid component in the shoulder arthroplasty. Digital photography has become an essential tool in modern medicine which has great potential for medical researches. In medical field technology has grown so much that computer based measurement are highly accurate and important for designing various prosthesis.With this background our aim was to do the study of measurements of the glenoid cavity by using digital photographs, Microsoft powerpoint 2007 and Image J, an image processing and analysing software. Materials and Methods: Glenoid cavity of two hundred scapulae (100-right and 100-left), were photographed along with scale using digital camera. These photos were transferred to the computer and required lines were drawn using Microsoft ppt for measurements of length and width of the glenoid. Image J software was used for measuring the parameters and analysis done by SPSSversion 16. Results: The mean length of glenoid on the right side was 3.55 cm and the width was 2.30 cm whereas the mean length of glenoid on the left was 3.59 and the width was 2.41cm. The mean value of glenoid index on right side was 66.89±9.71 and on the left side was 67.99±8.03. On comparing the right and left side there was a significant difference in the width (p<0.05) but no significant difference in the length and glenoid index Conclusion: In our study, we conclude that the values of glenoid parameters can be easily obtained by using photos and Image J which are comparable to other studies where measurements were done routinely with vernier calipers. There was significant difference between right and left side in the width of the glenoid The digital photographs and software technologies can be used in other anthropometric researches which make them faster and easier .