open access

Vol 75, No 3 (2016)
Original article
Submitted: 2015-11-24
Accepted: 2016-01-10
Published online: 2016-02-24
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The carrying angle: racial differences and relevance to inter-epicondylar distance of the humerus

M. Z. Allouh, J. H. Abu Ghaida, A. A. Jarrar, R. R. Khasawneh, A. G. Mustafa, K. M. Bashaireh
·
Pubmed: 26916201
·
Folia Morphol 2016;75(3):388-392.

open access

Vol 75, No 3 (2016)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2015-11-24
Accepted: 2016-01-10
Published online: 2016-02-24

Abstract

The human carrying angle (CA) is a measure of the lateral deflection of the forearm from the arm. The importance of this angle emerges from its functional and clinical relevance. Previous studies have correlated this angle with different parameters including age, gender, and handedness. However, no reports have focused on race-dependent variations in CA or its relation to various components of the elbow joint. This study aimed to investigate the variations in CA with respect to race and inter-epicondylar distance (IED) of the humerus. The study included 457 Jordanian and 345 Malaysian volunteers with an age range of 18–21 years. All participants were right-hand dominant with no previous medical history in their upper limbs. Both CA and IED were measured by well-trained medical practitioners according to a well-established protocol. Regardless of race, CA was greater on the dominant side and in females. Furthermore, CA was significantly greater in Malaysian males compared to Jordanian males, and significantly smaller in Malaysian females compared to their Jordanian counterparts. Finally, CA significantly decreased with increasing IED in both races. This study supports effects of gender and handedness on the CA independent of race. However, CA also varies with race, and this variation is independent of age, gender, and handedness. The evaluation also revealed an inverse relationship between CA and IED. These findings indicate that multiple factors including race and IED should be considered during the examination and management of elbow fractures and epicondylar diseases.

Abstract

The human carrying angle (CA) is a measure of the lateral deflection of the forearm from the arm. The importance of this angle emerges from its functional and clinical relevance. Previous studies have correlated this angle with different parameters including age, gender, and handedness. However, no reports have focused on race-dependent variations in CA or its relation to various components of the elbow joint. This study aimed to investigate the variations in CA with respect to race and inter-epicondylar distance (IED) of the humerus. The study included 457 Jordanian and 345 Malaysian volunteers with an age range of 18–21 years. All participants were right-hand dominant with no previous medical history in their upper limbs. Both CA and IED were measured by well-trained medical practitioners according to a well-established protocol. Regardless of race, CA was greater on the dominant side and in females. Furthermore, CA was significantly greater in Malaysian males compared to Jordanian males, and significantly smaller in Malaysian females compared to their Jordanian counterparts. Finally, CA significantly decreased with increasing IED in both races. This study supports effects of gender and handedness on the CA independent of race. However, CA also varies with race, and this variation is independent of age, gender, and handedness. The evaluation also revealed an inverse relationship between CA and IED. These findings indicate that multiple factors including race and IED should be considered during the examination and management of elbow fractures and epicondylar diseases.

Get Citation

Keywords

elbow, handedness, race

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About this article
Title

The carrying angle: racial differences and relevance to inter-epicondylar distance of the humerus

Journal

Folia Morphologica

Issue

Vol 75, No 3 (2016)

Article type

Original article

Pages

388-392

Published online

2016-02-24

Page views

1702

Article views/downloads

1416

DOI

10.5603/FM.a2016.0007

Pubmed

26916201

Bibliographic record

Folia Morphol 2016;75(3):388-392.

Keywords

elbow
handedness
race

Authors

M. Z. Allouh
J. H. Abu Ghaida
A. A. Jarrar
R. R. Khasawneh
A. G. Mustafa
K. M. Bashaireh

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