Study on geometry and morphology of proximal humerus in Northern Chinese population based on 3-D CT

Background: This study investigated the characteristics of humeral geometric and morphological parameters in northern Chinese population by three-dimensional measurements, and compared whether there were differences in humeral morphology among populations from different geographical regions.

Methods: Computed tomography scans of 80 humerus were obtained, reconstructed and measured. Differences in humeral morphological parameters between genders and sides were compared. Correlation analysis was used to explore possible correlations among the parameters. The differences in humeral geometric morphometric parameters between Western and East Asian populations were compared according to pool results of present and previous studies.

Results: The average (and standard deviation) of humeral head radius curvature, arc angle, diameter, and thickness was 151.79 ± 6.69°, 23.36 ± 2.08 mm, 44.83 ± 3.92 mm and 17.55 ± 1.84 mm in coronal humeral head plane, and 152.05 ± 8.82°, 21.81 ± 1.88 mm, 41.77 ± 3.44 mm and 16.52 ± 1.92 mm in transversal humeral head plane. The average of the humeral head medial offset and posterior offset was 7.34 ± 2.47 mm and 0.08 ± 1.72 mm. Humeral head inclination angle, arc angle and radius curvature of humeral neck-shaft averaged 137.69 ± 4.92°, 34.7 ± 5.29° and 55.76 ± 13.43 mm. Superior, inferior, anterior, posterior concave angle of humeral anatomical neck averaged 150.41 ± 10.91°, 146.55 ± 10.12°, 146.43 ± 13.53° and 149.33 ± 14.07°. The average of height of the greater tuberosity, height of the lesser tuberosity, depth, concave angle and volume of the intertubercular groove was 14.19 ± 1.7 mm, 8.9 ± 1.54 mm, 0.92 ± 0.31 mm3, 31.28 ± 9.61 mm, 4.98 ± 1.19 mm and 89.35 ± 17.62°. The upper angle of the greater tuberosity averaged 161.04 ± 7.84°, the upper angle of the greater tuberosity was 165.94 ± 3.6°. Differences in parameters of proximal humerus between genders and sides were found. There was no correlation between parameters of proximal humerus and age. Correlations were found among humeral morphological parameters. East Asian populations differed in proximal humeral morphology from Western populations.

Conclusions: This study will provide references for diagnosing and classifying shoulder disease, designing prosthesis and instrument, enhancing surgical precision and guiding patient recovery.