A Meta-Analysis of the Supracondylar Process of the Humerus with Clinical and Surgical Applications to Orthopedics/ Metaanálisis del Proceso Supracondileo del Humero con Aplicaciones Clínicas y Quirúrgicas para Ortopedia

• Published in: International journal of morphology 2019-03, Vol.37 (1), p.43
• Main Authors: Ma, Arcoverde, Mauricio, Barros, Gustavo dos Reis, Babinski, Marcio Antonio, Manaia, Jorge Henrique Ma, de Mello Silva, Celso Ricardo Correa, Chagas, Carlos Alberto Araujo, Pires, Lucas Alves Sarmento
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0717-9367

The supracondylar process is a hook shaped projection of the humerus. It is located superior to its medial epicondyle. This anatomic variation is often presented together with the Struther's ligament, a fibrous arcade that connects the supracondylar process to the medial epicondyle. Both structures have been associated with neurovascular bundle compression on the distal third of the arm, as the median and ulnar nerves and the brachial and ulnar arteries may pass through the osteofibrous canal that these variants create. The SciElo, Pubmed, Scopus, TRIP, MEDLINE, COCHRANE and ScienceDirect databases were searched with the term "supracondylar process" or "supracondyloid process" with the purpose of performing a meta-analysis of this bony spur. Heterogeneity between studies was evaluated using I2 estimation and the Cochran Q statistic test. A random effect model was used for all analysis. A total of twenty articles (26.415 humeri) were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of the supracondylar process was 0.68 % (95 % Confidence Interval: 0.47 % to 0.92 %). This variant was more commonly found in women than in men (statistically significant difference) and more commonly found on the left side than the right. The presence of the supracondylar process alone may induce neurovascular bundle compression. It can also be injured in traumatic or stress fractures. Knowledge of this variation and its prevalence may reduce misdiagnosis in radiographic images. KEY WORDS: Supracondylar process; Anatomical variation; Supracondylar process fracture; Humerus. El proceso supracondileo es una proyeccion en forma de gancho del humero. Se encuentra superior a su epicondilo medial. Esta variacion anatomica a menudo se presenta junto con el ligamento de Struther, una arcada fibrosa que conecta el proceso supracondileo con el epicondilo medial. Ambas estructuras se han asociado con la compresion del paquete neurovascular en el tercio distal del brazo, ya que los nervios mediano y ulnar y las arterias braquial y ulnar pueden pasar a traves del canal osteofibroso que crean estas variantes. Se realizaron busquedas en las bases de datos SciElo, Pubmed, Scopus, TRIP, MEDLINE, COCHRANE y ScienceDirect con el termino "proceso supracondileo" o "proceso supracondiloide" con el objetivo de realizar un metanalisis de este espolon oseo. La heterogeneidad entre los estudios se evaluo mediante la estimacion I2 y la prueba estadistica Cochran Q. Se utilizo un modelo de efectos ale