Investigating the supratrochlear foramen and septum in adult humerus bones: brief report

The supratrochlear foramen (STF) is an important and relatively common anatomic variation in the lower end of the humerus in humans. In recent years it has become clear that STF should be emphasized because anatomical knowledge of STF is useful for anatomists, anthropologists, orthopedic surgeons, and radiologists. The anatomical structure of the humerus may play an important role in the intramedullary fixation thereby stressing the need of prior anatomical knowledge and preoperative planning in the presence of variations like STF in the distal end of the humerus. This study focuses on STF in the distal of the humerus bone and as well as the intertubercular sulcus (ITS) in the Iranian population.

This study was performed on 57 adult human humeral bones regardless of their gender at Arak University of Medical Sciences in Iran that it was done from October 2014 to March 2015. A total of 57 dried humerus (27 right side and 30 left side) were examined to determine the presence of supratrochlear foramen and septum. They were free from any pathological changes and fractures. The STF was analyzed for morphology and morphometric correlation.

STF was found in only four cases (6.8%) of the humerus bones, two cases (3.4%) on the left and two cases (3.4%) on the right. The shape of the STF was oval, round and triangular. The mean STF transverse diameter in the right bones was 2.60±2.68 mm and in the left bones 0.57±0.31 mm and the mean vertical STF diameter in the right and left bones were 1.75±1.76 mm and 0.55±0.07 mm, respectively.

There was no significant difference in the shape of the STF and its number in the right and left bones. Twenty-seven bones (47%) out of 53 bones without supratrochlear foramen (STF) had septum.