Morphometric Analysis of the Glenoid Cavity in Adult Human Dry Scapulae from Central India: A Population-Specific Reference Study with Surgical and Forensic Correlation

Abstract

Background: Glenoid cavity morphometry underlies the sizing of prosthetic glenoid components in shoulder arthroplasty and carries independent forensic value, yet reference values are well documented to vary between populations and between neighbouring regions within India. No dry-bone morphometric dataset previously existed for the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh.

Objective: To determine the linear dimensions, glenoid cavity index, shape distribution, and surface area of the glenoid cavity in adult dry scapulae from Central India, and to compare findings with published national and international series.

Methods: An observational, cross-sectional osteometric study examined 150 fully ossified adult dry scapulae (75 right, 75 left) using a dual-examiner, triplicate-measurement protocol. Supero-inferior (SI) and antero-posterior (AP-D1, AP-D2) diameters, glenoid cavity (GC) index, shape (pear/oval/inverted-comma), and surface area were recorded. Side-wise comparison used the independent t-test or Mann-Whitney U test; shape distribution used the chi-square test; one-way ANOVA compared GC index across shape categories.

Results: Mean SI diameter was 36.22 ± 1.71 mm and mean GC index was 67.08 ± 5.21% (range 55.08-81.18%). The pear shape predominated (51.3%), followed by oval (25.3%) and inverted-comma (23.3%) configurations. No parameter differed significantly between sides (all p > .05), and GC index did not differ significantly across shape categories (F(2,147) = 0.733, p = .482).

Conclusion: Glenoid dimensions in this Central Indian population are bilaterally symmetrical and broadly consistent with, yet numerically distinct from, other published Indian series, supporting the need for regionally specific reference data in prosthesis design and forensic identification.