Correlation between the femoral trochlear line – epicondylar line angle and intercondylar notch width index in an Iranian population

Abstract

Objectives: Distal femur anthropometric indices are the main parameters for the design of knee implants. However, there are several variations concerning the anatomy and congruence of the distal femur in different populations. The purpose of this study was to identify anthropometric data on the distal femur and investigate the correlation between the trochlear line – epicondylar line angle and intercondylar notch width index in an Iranian population.

Methods: Distal femur measurements were performed in 158 knees on bony specimens and 187 MRIs from an Iranian population. Intercondylar width, intercondylar notch width, and trochlear line – epicondylar line angle were measured and intercondylar notch width index was calculated.

Results: In bony specimens, the trochlear line – epicondylar line angle was measured as 7.38° and intercondylar notch width as 19.36 mm. In MRI images, the trochlear line – epicondylar line angle was measured as 6.07° and notch width index as 0.276 mm. Linear regression analysis showed a significant relationship between the trochlear line – epicondylar line angle and notch width index (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The results of this study provide fundamental data for the design of knee prostheses suitable for the Iranian population.

Keywords

• anthropology
• notch width index
• total knee arthroplasty
• trochlea epicondylar angle

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