Roentgenographic Carpal Morphometry: Assessment of Sex- and Age-Related Variations in Normative Posteroanterior Wrist Radiographic Measurements among Adult Nigerians
T. M. Enaohwo
Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.
O. G. Okoro *
Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Delta, Agbor, Nigeria
P. C. Kemebiye
Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.
O S. Ovie
Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.
S. M. Ohue
Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.
S. Ifada
Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: In orthopedic surgery, accurate anthropometric measurements of the carpal bones is essential for the correction of post-traumatic deformities during corrective osteotomies. Likewise, accurate radiographic evaluation of carpal bone dimensions plays a critical role in the diagnostic assessment of carpal collapse syndromes observed in conditions such as Kienböck’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Despite the clinical relevance of these carpal parameters, limited normative radiographic data exist for the adult Nigerian population. This study, therefore, aimed to establish population-specific normative reference values for carpal bone dimensions based on posteroanterior wrist radiographs in adult Nigerians.
Methods: This retrospective observational study utilized 201 posteroanterior wrist radiographs archived in the Radiology Department of Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, Nigeria. Measurements of carpal height, lunate width, capitate length, and the scapholunate gap were obtained from the eight carpal bones using the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Sex-related differences were assessed using the independent-samples t-test, while age-group variations were evaluated with one-way ANOVA. Pearson’s correlation analysis was employed to determine associations among measured carpal parameters. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Obtained mean values for carpal height (3.215 cm), capitate length (2.153 cm), lunate width (14.032 mm), and scapholunate gap (0.202 cm), reflected a pronounced range of sex variation with males exhibiting significantly larger mean values. Age-specific analysis of mean values across the five age groups showed minimal variation in carpal bone dimensions, with carpal height ranging from 3.19 to 3.24 cm, capitate length from 2.144 to 2.157 cm, lunate width from 14.003 to 14.143 mm, and the scapholunate gap from 0.195 to 0.207 cm. Corresponding p-values for all inter-group comparisons exceeded 0.05 in all parameters, indicating no statistically significant differences attributable to age.
Conclusion: This study reveals marked sexual dimorphism alongside a high degree of age-independent consistency in adult carpal morphometric parameters. These outcomes hold important implications for forensic identification, anthropometric investigations, orthopedic decision-making, and radiologic assessment. Moreover, the findings enrich the existing repository of population-specific skeletal data in Delta State, building on prior regional anatomical research and enhancing the accuracy of clinical and forensic interpretations.
Keywords: Carpal morphometry, carpal height, capitate length, lunate width, scapholunate gap