Three-dimensional geometrical modelling of the femoral intramedullary cavity using ring cyclide model

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate if geometrical modelling in addition to three-dimensional (3D) modelling will standardize models and allow performing mathematical calculations easily for the compatibility of femoral implant curvature. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 50 subjects (27 males, 23 females; mean age 55 years; range, 21 to 84 years). The femoral shaft intramedullary cavity was resembled into a chord of the ring cyclide, where the rotational radius was centered at its smallest radius. A 3D evaluation of the left femoral computed tomography data of the subjects was used to investigate the population parameters. The fitting was defined as being between the anterior and posterior border radii in the sagittal plane. RESULTS: The best fitting radius of implants was in between 90 to 99 cm in 72% of subjects in our sample. These radii values were lower than the mean intramedullary and cortical centerline radii which had only 62% and 50% fittings, respectively, among our population sample. The bowing radii and the smallest intramedullary width increased with the femoral length. These values were not affected by gender. CONCLUSION: This modelling may have value for understanding femoral shaft intramedullary cavity geometry and may be a good tool to assess implant fitting.