CT study of femoral trochlear groove anatomical morphology / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the anatomical morphology of femoral trochlear groove and the difference between normal males and females.Methods Eighty healthy volunteers were recruited,including 42 males and 38 females with an average age of 36.2 years (range,21-55 years).All the volunteers without knee unstabilization,pain and wound.CT scan of right femurs were performed and 3-D model were reconstructed.The anatomical parameters of right femoral trochlear groove were measured,which included transepicondylar axis,medial and lateral length of trochlear groove,medial and lateral condylar height,sulcus angle,depth of trochlear groove,transcondylar axis,anterior femoral condylar angle,trochlear groove position,and then compared the morphologic difference of trochlear groove between males and females.Results The average width of transepicondylar axis was 79.21±3.80 mm for males and 70.73±2.91 mm for females (t=-53.40,P=0.00).The minimum sulcus angle was acquired at 45° flexion for males and 42° flexion for females.It was 133.92°±4.76° for males and 132.71°±4.36° for females.The maximum length of transepicondylar axis was acquired at 87° flexion for males and 90° flexion for females.It was 42.36±3.48 mm for males and 39.03 ±3.36 mm for females.The anterior femoral condylar angle decreased with the increasing flexion angle of knee (P＞0.05).The position of the trochlear groove moved laterally with the increasing flexion angle of knee (P＞0.05).Conclusion There is no significant difference between male and female in the geometry of femoral trochlear groove,however there is a significant difference in sizes.Therefore,during design the knee prosthesis,close approximation of size is essential,while gender differences in morphology need not be considered a factor.