Study of the carrying angle of the human elbow joint in full extension: a morphometric analysis.

This study measured the carrying angle of the elbow joint in full extension in 600 students, using the supplementary angle to that between the longitudinal axis of the arm and that of the forearm. The mean carrying angle was 12.88 degrees +/-5.92: 10.97 degrees +/-4.27 in men and 15.07 degrees +/-4.95 in women. The carrying angle changes with skeletal growth and maturity. The angle is always greater on the side of the dominant hand. We confirmed the inverse relationship between the carrying angle and the intertrochanteric diameter. Also, the type of constitution influences the value of the carrying angle, especially in women.