This study was conducted to define the proximal ulnar morphometry with respect to dorsal and intramedullary implant design. Eighty two dry Anatolian ulnae were evaluated by both the traditional and digital morphometric analysis methods. Also the medullary cavities and cortical bone thicknesses were measured from radiographic images. The mean value of ulnar length (UL) was 25.06 cm; distance between the most prominent anterior point of the superior surface of the olecranon (MAPO) and the most posterior point of the olecranon (MPPO), distance between the MPPO and maximum anterior angulation (MAA), distance between the MPPO and the maximum varus angulation (MVA) were; 1.67 cm, 5.36 cm and 7.56 cm, respectively. The average antero-posterior diameters at mid- olecranon plane (MOP), MAA plane (MAAP) and MVA plane (MVAP) were; 1.78 cm, 1.68 cm and 1.41 cm; transverse diameters of same planes were; 1.96 cm, 1.65 cm and 1.51 cm, respectively. The mean olecranon angle (OA), MAA and MVA were: 113.35°, 9.12° and 13.82°; also the mean circumferences at same planes were 6.48 cm, 6.37 cm and 5.16 cm, respectively. The mean antero-posterior medullary diameter at MAAP and mean transverse medullary diameter at MVAP were; 6.83 mm and 7.22 mm, respectively. Mean anterior and posterior cortical bone thicknesses at MAAP were: 3.61 mm and 4.25 mm; the mean medial and lateral cortical bone thicknesses at MVAP were: 4.06 mm and 4.13 mm, respectively. Dorsal angulation and medullary angulation of the proximal ulna presents different architecture. Unique morphological architecture of the proximal ulna should be taken into consideration in means of surgical operations and examination of radiographic images. It can be inferred that standardized bony landmarks may helpful during the process of designing and manufacturing precurved dorsal plates and as well as variable proximal ulnar implants.
KEY WORDS: Anatomy; Morphometry; Proximal ulna; Radiography; Varus angulation.
