Radiographic features of the supracondylar process of the humerus
Zhao Yi1, Ni Zhongyi1, Pan Junbo2, Hu Chunhong3, Wang Wei1
1Department of Medical Imaging, the Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; 2Hand and Foot Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; 3Department of Medical Imaging, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
Abstract：Objective To explore the radiographic features of the supracondylar process of the humerus.Methods Radiographic data of 14 patients with the supracondylar process of the humerus diagnosed in the Department of Radiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University from July 2013 to April 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 11 males and 3 females, aged 2 to 86 years, with median of 33 (22,48) years, the lesions were located in the left humerus in 8 cases and the right humerus in 6 cases. All 14 patients underwent digital radiography (DR), and 6 of them underwent multislice spiral CT (MSCT). The relative length ratio of the supracondylar process of the humerus, the relative distance ratio to medial epicondyle of humerus, and the angle between the body of lesion and the distal end of the humerus were measured and calculated. Some indicators were observed, including whether the base was wide, the tip pointing, and the presence or absence of the medullary cavity and cartilage cap.Results The bone-like spinous process were found in the anterior medial aspect of the lower part of the humerus of 14 patients, with the relative length ratio of 0.44±0.13 and the relative distance ratio from the medial iliac crest of 1.87±0.28. The body tilted to the elbow joint or were perpendicular to the humeral shaft, and the angle between the body and the distal end of the humerus were 63.60°±21.20°. The bases of 14 supracondylar process of the humerus were wide, the tip was pointed and pointed to the medial malleolus. The boundary of lesions was clear, the density was slightly lower than or substantially equivalent to the density of cortical bone, and no clear cartilage cap and marrow cavity were seen.Conclusions The characteristic radiographic of the supracondylar process of the humerus are the bone-like spinous process originating from the humerus cortex, which are located in the anterior medial aspect of the lower part of the humerus, 3 to 8 cm from the upper iliac crest, with the wide base. It originates from a beak-like or spinous bone-like protrusion of the humeral cortex, with a wide base and a thin tip. It points to the direction of the elbow joint, the body is inclined to the elbow joint or perpendicular to the humeral shaft, and there is no bone marrow cavity and cartilage cap, which can provide objective imaging basis for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the humeral condyle.
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2020, Vol. 25 
