Clinical Relevance of Sternal Foramina: A Morphometric Study

The present study aimed at determining the incidence of sternal foramina in adult dry bones of North Indian descent. We also aimed to determine the number, precise location of the sternal foramina with a standard reference point which might have considerable importance with regard to procedures involving sternal puncture.

This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted on 72 dry adult human sternums. Various measurements in relation to the sternal foramina were taken with a non-stretchable measuring tape and digital vernier calliper and expressed as: [A]-total sternal length, [B]-distance between the jugular notches to the foramen, [C]-distance between the angle of Louis to the foramen and [D]-distance of the foramen from the mid sternal plane. Statistical analysis was performed with Microsoft Excel version 2019. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant.

We found 6.94% (5 out of 72 sternums) incidence of sternal foramina which corroborates well with the existing literature. Mean sternal length was 127.7 ± 09 mm. The mean distance of the foramina from suprasternal notch, sternal angle and from the median plane were 118.12 ± 0.3 mm, 116.7 mm and 2.4 mm respectively. Incidence of sternal foramina was almost similar to previously reported studies.

The precise knowledge about the expected location of sternal foramina is imperative to avoid intra-thoracic visceral injury during commonly performed acupuncture needle insertion and while doing bone marrow aspiration for diagnostic evaluation.