ANTHROPOMETRY OF THE SCAPULA - CLINICAL AND SURGICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Anthropometric measurements were taken on 266 scapulas from the ''G. M arro'' Egyptian skeletal collection at the Department of Anthropology of the University of Turin in Italy to study the orthopaedic pathologi c condition of the shoulder joints. Data were taken on the size and sh ape of the acromial arch in relation to the inclination and anatomic v ariants of the acromion. The rarity of the ''hooked'' form was confirm ed, and two variants of the acromial vault (i.e., one predominantly os seous and the other predominantly fibrous) were recognized. The spatia l location and biomechanical importance of the coracoid process were c onsidered. Orientation of the glenoid fossa furnishes an osseous base for the stability of the scapulohumeral joint both anteroposteriorly a nd vertically. Observations on current practices of surgical intervent ion on the shoulder as reported in the literature and some anatomic sk eletal basis of surgical access are discussed.