Variation in carrying angle - A normative study

Abstract

The synovial joint that comprises the elbow is a hinge joint with a single degree of freedom, allowing for flexion and extension movements. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the varying carrying angles that were observed. An observational study was conducted in the Department of Orthopaedics Heritage Institute of medical sciences Varanasi. Around 500 samples were taken for a period of 2 years. All patients of both genders inclusive of age group 8 to 19 years were taken with their consent. Asymptomatic individuals without any deformity, fractures, anomalies and previous history of surgery around elbow were included. All with previous elbow injuries and anomalies around elbow, history of Endocrine disorders, athletes and deformity occurring after any elbow injury were excluded.The present study was conducted in the Department of Orthopaedics, Heritage Institute of Medical Sciences, Varanasi with the objective to observe the physiological factors responsible for the change in the carrying angle in normal individuals in a tabulated manner. A total of 500 patients were included in the study. There was no significant (p>0.05) difference in carrying angle between male and females among different age groups. There was no significant (p>0.05) difference in carrying angle between male and females among different height groups. Only age was positively significantly (r=0.48, p=0.001) correlated with carrying angle.Females had a considerably higher carrying angle (12.96±2.44) than males (12.19±1.74) (p=0.001). There was no significant difference in carrying angle across height groups or genders (p>0.05). Age correlated positively with carrying angle (r=0.48, p=0.001).