However, this association has been questioned by other researchers [ 10 , 11 ]. Most morphometric large sample size studies of the distal femur include measurements on radiographs, computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging [ 1 , 9 , 11 , 12 ].
A study on dried femora was published recently, where authors performed measurements using a microscribe digitizer for 3D analysis [ 13 ]. In the present study, certain osteometric parameters of the femoral condyles were recorded and the existence of gender and side-to-side difference was examined in Caucasian dried femori.
The sample consisted of paired dried femori left and right from males and females. Femori that belonged to individuals other than Greeks were excluded. Femori that on gross inspection had evidence of fracture, post-mortem damage or arthritis were excluded from the study, as well. All measurements were performed with a digital sliding caliper. A single author performed all measurements for consistency. Each measurement was repeated three times and the mean value was recorded.
Measurement error was assessed for every anatomical parameter according to the method described by White and Folkens for osteometric studies [ 14 ]. All measurements were rounded to two decimal places. It was 8. The mean medial condylar depth was 5.
The relative values for the medial condylar depth in men were 6. The average lateral condylar depth was 5. It was 6. The mean intercondylar width was found 2.
In male femora average value was 2. The intercondylar depth was 2. It was 2. Data, as well as measurements error values, are summarized in Tables 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , and 5. In the present study, five morphometric parameters were recorded in dried bones with a direct method using digital sliding caliper. In the literature most anatomic morphometric studies have been conducted with indirect methods including radiography, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and 3D modelling.
Given the fact that cadaveric material is scarce, these methods offer the advantage of describing anatomy in large samples since they can be performed in living subjects.
However, indirect methods have been found to be inaccurate even after correction for magnification, technique, and projection [ 14 — 16 ]. The bicondylar width of the femur was found 8. The bicondylar width is the most frequently measured anatomic parameter of the distal femur. However, there is great variability between studies regarding the definition of measuring points as well as the measurement techniques and the type of sample [ 1 , 4 — 7 , 9 — 13 , 17 — 19 ].
As a result, any comparison would provide unreliable conclusions. We measured the bicondylar width of the femur according to the definition of Farrally and Moore which is the maximum distance across the condyles in the transverse plane.
They reported an average of 8. Regardless of the measurement method, most studies have demonstrated a greater bicondylar width in men than in women and no statistically significant difference between left and right side [ 1 , 4 — 7 , 9 , 10 , 12 , 13 , 17 , 19 ].
The mean medial condylar depth of the femur was 5. The average lateral condylar depth of the femur in our sample was 5. No significant difference was found between the left and right femori for both measurements. In the literature, the condylar depth was uniformly defined as the maximum anteroposterior diameter of each femoral condyle, but differences in measurement techniques and sample material were consistent.
The greater depth of both femoral condyles in men than in women and the absence of side differences, which were noticed in the present study, are in accordance with most literature studies [ 1 , 4 — 6 , 17 , 20 , 21 ].
However, Gillespie et al. The bicondylar width as well as the medial and lateral condylar depths of the femur are important parameters for the design of total knee prostheses. Differences in anatomy between genders have led to the design of gender-specific implants. Lateral condyle depth of the femur has been associated with osteoarthritis, but it remains unclear whether the increased depth of the lateral condyle is a predisposing factor or the effect of knee osteoarthritis [ 20 ].
The intercondylar width of the femur was 2. No significant difference was found between the left and right femori. Intercondylar notch dimensions have a clinical impact since smaller intercondylar notches have been associated with smaller ACL width and more frequent ACL ruptures [ 7 , 9 , 20 , 22 , 23 ].
However, other studies questioned this association [ 8 , 11 , 24 , 25 ]. This controversy led to the publication of morphometric studies of the intercondylar notch with the use of imaging techniques [ 7 — 11 , 20 , 22 — 24 ].
Wada et al. The intercondylar width has been studied extensively but this is not the case for the intercondylar depth of the femur. Herzog et al.
There was no statistical significant difference between measurements obtained with calipers and MRI but there was a significant difference between calipers and X-ray [ 24 ]. Based on their observation, we compared our results with those mentioned in the literature and we noticed that they are within the range of the values reported [ 7 — 11 , 20 , 22 — 25 ].
The larger intercondylar notch in men and the absence of side-to-side differences, which were found in the present study, have been verified by many authors [ 7 , 9 , 10 , 22 , 23 ]. In conclusion, in the present study direct measurements of the femoral condyles were conducted in a large sample of Caucasian Greek subjects.
The differences in anatomy between genders might add to the design of prostheses. However, recent studies have shown that gender differences of distal femur morphometry depend on other morphometric measurements of femur, such as the femur length and width [ 4 ]. In the study by Dargel et al. Therefore, they proposed that new implant design might rather take into account interindividual variations in the knee joint anatomy instead of gender-specific variations.
Based on the results of the present study, the contralateral healthy side can be used safely for preoperative templating in total knee reconstruction since there was no statistical significant difference. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Article of the Year Award: Outstanding research contributions of , as selected by our Chief Editors. The increased hoop strain stretches the meniscus in outward direction towards radius, causing extrusion, which is associated with the root tear and resultant degenerative osteoarthritis. Since the larger contact area of medial TFJ may increase the hoop stresses, we hypothesized that the larger medial femoral to tibial condylar dimension would contribute to the development of medial meniscus posterior root tear MMPRT.
Thus, the purpose of the study was to assess the relationship between MMPRT and medial femoral to tibial condylar dimension. This area called the Tibial Plateau is divided into a medial inside of your knee and a lateral outside part. The Patella is a bone that lies within the quadriceps tendon. It rides in the shallow groove over the front part of the Femur called the Trochlea. The Patella acts as a lever arm to help the quadriceps muscle extend the knee.
Several bones meet to form the knee joint; it consists of the femur, tibia, and patella. These bones are held together by ligaments, which connect two bones to each other, and tendons, which connect a muscle to a bone.
Articular Cartilage, also called Hyaline Cartilage, covers the joint surfaces where the femur, tibia, and patella articulate with each other. This glistening white substance has the consistency of firm rubber but has very low friction to allow sliding motion with almost no resistance. With normal joint fluid for lubrication, the surface is more slippery than ice-on-ice and allows smooth and easy knee joint motion for decades.
Hyaline cartilage is a tissue composed of Type II collagen and other special molecules, including glycosaminoglycans GAG , which help to attract water into the cartilage, giving it viscoelasticity to dampen shock and distribute forces to the bone underneath. Embedded in this matrix are chondrocytes, living cells that initially produced the matrix, and now maintain it.
Unfortunately, articular cartilage has a very low capacity for healing, since it does not contain blood vessels. Both superficial and full-thickness cartilage injuries may lead to progressive damage, similar to a pothole increasing in size with time, and can eventually end in osteoarthritis. The larger the initial cartilage injury, the faster the potential progression of arthritis. Appearance of Cartilage Defect during Arthroscopy.
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