Morphometric Study of Lower End Femur by Using Helical Computed Tomography

BACKGROUND: A mismatch between the prosthesis size and bone may result in a number of complications. Keeping this in view, it is essential to analyze the morphological differences of the knee observed across various ethnic groups to improve the performance of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The current study was aimed at studying the computed tomography (CT) profile of distal femur in Indian population and evaluates it morphologically. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted on 62 patients presenting to the Department of Orthopedics in a tertiary care center in rural north-west India for features suggestive of osteoarthritis and trauma of knee from September 17, 2015 to September 16, 2016. Helical CT of both knees was done, and the data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 17.0 statistical significance was assessed with the help of t-test and the value of P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: The mean mediolateral (ML) value in male patients was 72.74 ± 4.45 while the mean ML value in female patients was lower (63.59 ± 2.61). The mean anteroposterior (AP) value in male patients was significantly (statistically) higher (49.62 ± 3.86) in comparison to mean AP value in female patients (45.11 ± 4.4). The mean anterior lateral condylar height (ALCH) value in male patients was higher (17.53 ± 2.72) in comparison to mean ALCH value in female patients (14.63 ± 3.42). CONCLUSIONS: The current study highlights the need to develop components and implants for use in TKA and fractures of distal femur keeping the age- and sex-specific anatomical features of people of different ethnic origins in view.