Curvatures and Medullary Canal of the Clavicle Among an Egyptian Population: A three Dimensional Computed Tomography Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Anatomy and Embryology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Clavicle is the most frequently fractured bone in human skeleton. Fractures treated nonoperatively
showed higher rate of non-union or malunion. Operative treatment have superior results over
the non-operative treatment, and include two approaches; external fixation or internal fixation. External
fixation may be cosmetically displeasing and uncomfortable. Internal fixation is accompanied by a higher
rate of cure with lesser complications, however the shape and size of the medullary canal of the clavicle can
be a prohibiting factor making the placement of intramedullary devices difficult.
Aim of work: The present work was designed to study the length, the curvatures as well as the dimensions
of the medullary canal of the clavicle among Egyptians using three dimensional computed tomography.
Material and Methods: This study was carried on one hundred clavicles. CT scan of the chest with coronal
and sagittal reformatting and 3D reconstruction of the clavicle was done.
Results: The length of male clavicles was longer than female clavicles. Left clavicles were shorter
than right clavicle in both sexes. The medial as well as the lateral angle of the left clavicle was greater
than that of the right clavicle in both sexes. The height and width of the medullary canal of the clavicle
were generally greater in males than in females.
Conclusion: Computed tomography imaging has been shown to be an accurate method for describing
the anatomy of the clavicle. Data could be used to determine whether the anatomy of the clavicle and its
medullary canal were suitable for intramedullary fixation.

Keywords

The Egyptian Journal of Anatomy
Volume 40, Issue 1
January 2017
Pages 120-129

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