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Morphological Variation of the Subtalar Facets of the Calcaneus Among Young Adults

Abstract

The study examines morphological variation of the subtalar facets of the calcaneus among young adults, with emphasis on differences in the shape, size, configuration, and arrangement of the articular facets. The subtalar facets provide important articulating surfaces between the calcaneus and talus and contribute to movement, stability, and load distribution within the hindfoot. Understanding their morphological characteristics is important for appreciating anatomical variation and may be relevant to orthopedic assessment, radiological interpretation, subtalar joint procedures, reconstructive surgery, and forensic osteological studies. The study will assess the morphological characteristics of the subtalar facets of the calcaneus among young adults and document the patterns of variation observed within the study population. The specific objectives will include identifying the different shapes and configurations of the subtalar facets, determining selected dimensions of the anterior, middle, and posterior facets where applicable, documenting their arrangement and surface characteristics, and comparing the observed features between the right and left sides where applicable. A cross-sectional descriptive research design will be adopted for the study. An appropriate sample of calcaneal bones or suitable osteological specimens will be selected using an appropriate sampling technique. Data on the subtalar facets will be obtained through direct osteological examination using standardized anatomical landmarks and appropriate measuring instruments. The collected data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, while appropriate inferential tests will be applied where necessary to determine significant differences or associations among the observed morphological characteristics. The study is expected to reveal different morphological patterns of the subtalar facets among the calcaneal specimens studied. Variations may be observed in the shape, number, dimensions, orientation, and arrangement of the facets, including differences in the configuration of the anterior, middle, and posterior articular surfaces. Bilateral differences may also be observed in selected measurements or morphological characteristics, while some features may demonstrate substantial similarity between the right and left sides. The findings will be useful to anatomists, orthopedic surgeons, podiatrists, radiologists, physiotherapists, forensic anthropologists, and other healthcare professionals involved in the assessment of the foot and ankle. The study may provide useful reference information for understanding normal variation in calcaneal subtalar facet morphology and may support the interpretation of imaging findings and planning of procedures involving the subtalar joint. The findings may also contribute to osteological and forensic studies of the calcaneus. The study will conclude by documenting the morphological characteristics and patterns of variation of the subtalar facets of the calcaneus among young adults. It is recommended that standardized osteological and imaging-based procedures be used when evaluating calcaneal subtalar facet morphology and that further studies involving larger and more diverse skeletal samples be conducted to establish broader anatomical reference data.

Keywords: Calcaneus, subtalar facets, morphological variation, talocalcaneal joint, subtalar joint, calcaneal morphology, osteology, morphometry, anatomical variation, young adults, foot anatomy, hindfoot, orthopedic anatomy, radiology, forensic anthropology.