Radiographic study of carrying angle and morphometry of skeletal elements of human elbow

Lateral obliquity of the forearm from the arm when the forearm is supinated and extended is called carrying angle. In this study carrying angle was measured using radiographs of adult individuals and morphometry was done on dry bones taking part in formation of human elbow (on lower end of humerus-trochlear angle and inclination angle of olecranon fossa, on upper end of ulna-olecranon-coronoid angle and length and width of inferior medial trochlear notch). On radiographs, the difference between male and female carrying angle and difference between carrying angle of right and left limbs (in both sexes together as well as in same sex) was statistically not significant. All the morphometric parameters measured in this study did not show any significant sexual dimorphism or difference between right and left side except the inclination angle of olecranon fossa, which was significantly more on right side. Different findings of carrying angle as reported by various authors could be due to racial difference or due to different methods used to measure carrying angle. Morphometric parameters were similar to findings of radiographic method of measuring carrying angle. These factors should also be considered in construction of elbow prosthesis as well as use of carrying angle in identification of skeletal remains.