Geometric Assessment of Scapular Thickness by Computed Tomography

Purpose: Understanding exactly detailed anatomy and morphology of scapula is very important for further surgical procedures. This study was intended to provide accurate anatomic and morphologic information of scapula by exactly measuring scapular thickness using computed tomography and reconstructing its geometric model. Materials and Methods: Eight average lengths and two angles of 102 scapular structures obtained from 51 cadavers were generally measured by computed tomography. Also, to measure the scapular thickness, sagittal planes of each scapula were divided almost equally and the thicknesses of each sagittal plane was measured by computed tomography. After measuring every thickness, average results were calculated and the gender difference was compared by Student t-test. Results: Average results of the thickness of glenoid fossa, lateral border, medial border, and the middle 1/3 portion of the scapular body were 22.4 mm, 13.83 mm, 4.44 mm and 2.06 mm, respectively. Also, male scapulars were found to be significantly thicker than female. Based on these measured thicknesses, we reconstructed the 3-dimensional geometric model of scapula. Conclusion: From these results, glenoid fossa and lateral border were the thickest part of scapula, while the middle 1/3 portion of the scapular was the thinnest.