Radiology, Vol 199, 737-742, Copyright © 1996 by Radiological Society of North America
Acromial morphology: relation to sex, age, symmetry, and subacromial enthesophytes
JD Getz, MP Recht, DW Piraino, JP Schils, BM Latimer, LM Jellema and NA Obuchowski
Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195, USA.
PURPOSE: To evaluate acromial shape in relation to age, sex, symmetry, and
presence of subacromial enthesophytes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred
ninety-four cadaveric scapulas were reviewed. Specimens were categorized by
sex and age (age range, 20-89 years). Acromial morphology was typed
according to the Bigliani classification: type I, flat; type II, curved;
and type III, hooked. The presence and degree of subacromial enthesopathy
was recorded. Selective radiographic correlation was obtained. RESULTS: The
relative percentages of acromial types I, II, and III were 22.8% (90
acromions), 68.5% (270 acromions), and 8.6% (34 acromions), respectively.
There was a greater percentage of type III in men (10.2% [21 of 205] vs
6.9% [13 of 189] and type I in women (27.5% [52 of 189] vs 18.5% [38 of
205]). There was no relationship between acromial type and age (P = .667).
Enthesophytes were most common in type III (20 [59%] of 34 acromions)
versus type II (115 [42.6%] of 270 acromions) and type I (22 [24%] of 90
acromions). Acromial morphology was symmetric in 135 (70.7%) of 191 pairs
of acromions and asymmetric in 56 pairs (29.3%). CONCLUSION: Acromial shape
does not vary significantly with age. It does, however, differ between
sexes. The relative percentages of the types differ from previously
reported values. Acromial shape tends to be symmetric. A trend between
acromial type and the presence of enthesophytes is observed.
