An anthropometric radiographic study of the intercondylar notch in brazilian males and females

ABSTRACT

The anthropometric aspects of the femoral intercondylar notch and the femoral condyles in knees of male and female young adult individuals were analyzed at this study. Forty-six simple X-rays of the femoral intercondylar notch of right and left knees taken from 46 (18 to 35 year-old individuals), without manifestation of any pathological condition of the lower limbs. The individuals were divided into group G1 with: 23 knee of male individuals and group G1 with 23 knee of female individuals. The radiographic images were digitalized through a scanner. The comparative analysis showed that the values of femoral bicondylar width, femoral intercondylar notch base width, femoral intercondylar notch apex width, lateral and medial femoral condyle widths were greater on males. The opening femoral intercondylar notch angle showed greater values in male sex individuals while the Intercondyle Width Index (I.W.I.), expressed through the relation between the notch´s width and the femoral bicondylar width at the popliteal´s wrinkle level and whose value can be used as prediction to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, showed greater values in female sex individuals. The values of height and width of femoral intercondylar notch did not show differences between the sexes. Our results suggest that females have greater predisposition to ACL injury.