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Defining the shape of the scapulothoracic gliding surface
Tomas Paquet1, Robin Van Den Broecke2, Stijn Casier2
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium. Tomas_Paquet@hotmail.com.
Purpose:
The aim of the study is to evaluate the difference in shape of the upper part and lower part of the Scapulothoracic Gliding Surface (STGS).
Methods:
3D-CT images of the thoracic cage of 50 patients were created in MIMICS ®. Three anatomical landmarks (insertion m. serratus anterior on 5th rib; transverse process of 2th and 7th vertebra) were used as an anteroposterior cutting plane to define the STGS. The upper part of the STG was defined as rib 2-5 and the lower part as 5-8. Next, in MATLAB ®, a script was used to create the sphere with best fit for upper and lower parts of STGS. The Root-Square-Mean Error (RSME) (mm) between two closest points on the fitted sphere and the STGS of both parts were calculated to determine the goodness-of-fit.
Results:
The RSME was found to be significantly lower for the area ribs 2-5 (mean 7.85 mm, SD 1.86) compared the area of ribs 5-8 (mean 10.08 mm, SD 1.90).
Conclusion:
The STGS of the upper thoracic wall (2-5) is more spherical shaped than the STGS of the lower thoracic wall (rib 5-8).
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