KUMJ | VOL. 9 | NO. 4 | ISSUE 36 | OCT-DEC, 2011

Study on Curvatures of Clavicle With Its Clinical Importance
Haque MK, Mansur DI, Sharma K

Background

The clavicle is the most frequently fractured bone of the human skeleton. 70–80%

of fractures occur at the middle third of the shaft of the bone. Anatomical variations

in the clavicle of relevance to form intramedullary fixation.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was attempted to know about comparative differences

between curvatures of the right and left clavicles, from certain metrical parameters.

Methods

The materials for the present study consisted of 257 (135 right and 122 left) adult

clavicles, which were collected from the Department of Anatomy and from the

students of the first year M.B.B.S during the period 2010 - 2011, Department of

Anatomy, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Nepal. The

deepest points of the curvatures of the clavicle, where the convexities were the

maximum. These angles were measured with the help of a protractor. The sum of

the two angles constituted the total curvature of the bone.

Results

The average medial angle, lateral angle and sum of the two angles of right side

were 150.97º ±6.16 SD, 139.76º ±7.55 SD and 290.73º ±11.14 respectively and that

of the left side were 151.50º ±5.67SD, 141.73º ±8.44 SD and 293.23º ±11.69SD

respectively. The present study revealed that the medial and lateral angles of the

left clavicle were greater than that of the right clavicle and medial curvature was

more than the lateral curvature of the same clavicle.

Conclusions

It is important to recognize anatomical variations in the curvatures of clavicle when

considering intramedullary nailing techniques. It also helps Anthropologists in their

study of evolution.