Evaluation of Morphological Variations in the Cuboidal Articular Facet of Dry Human Calcaneus in Bangladeshi People

Abstract

Context: Calcaneus is the largest and longest tarsal bone in the foot. It forms talocalcaneal and calcaneocuboid joint which helps in inversion and eversion movements of foot. Calcaneus has on its upper surface an articular facet for talus and anterior end presents an articular facet for cuboid bone. Modification on cuboidal articular facet of calcaneus is evolutionary and is an important aspect of human bipedal gait. Therefore, this study is important to understand variations in facets, diagnostic, treatment and surgical procedure.

Objective: The aim of the study was to find out the morphological variations in shapes of cuboidal articular facets of calcaneus in both male & female.

Materials and Methods: The present study was an observational study conducted in the Department of Anatomy, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka from January 2018 to December 2018. The study material consists of two hundred (200) calcanei of unknown sex. The study samples were divided into male and female groups using ‘discrimination function analysis technique’ and the variations in shapes of cuboidal articular facets on dry adult human left calcanei were identified by simple observational method.

Results: Among different variations of cuboidal articular facet of left calcanei, Type 1 was found in 54% & 53% cases, Type 2 was found in 12% & 20% cases, Type 3 was found in 25% & 22% cases and Type 4 was found in 9% & 5% cases in male & female respectively.

Conclusion: Findings of the present study revealed that Type 1 was the commonest and Type 4 was the rarest variations of cuboidal articular facet of left calcaneus.

Bangladesh Journal of Anatomy January 2023, Vol. 21, No. 1, pp. 8-12