Anthropometry of the scapula: clinical and surgical considerations

Anthropometric measurements were taken on 266 scapulas from the "G. Marro" Egyptian skeletal collection of the Department of Anthropology of the University of Turin in Italy to study the orthopaedic pathologic condition of the shoulder joints. Data were taken on the size and shape of the acromial arch in relation to the inclination and anatomic variants of the acromion. The rarity of the "hooked" form was confirmed, and two variants of the acromial vault (i.e., one predominantly osseous and the other predominantly fibrous) were recognized. The spatial location and biomechanical importance of the coracoid process were considered. Orientation of the glenoid fossa furnishes an osseous base for the stability of the scapulohumeral joint both anteroposteriorly and vertically. Observations on current practices of surgical intervention on the shoulder as reported in the literature and some anatomic skeletal basis of surgical access are discussed.