A morphometric and radiological study of the distal end of femur in West Bengal population

Abstract

The distal end of the femur has immense importance from the anatomical, functional and clinical point of view. The present study was carried out to assess the individual condylar dimension, maximum bicondylar width, size of intercondylar notch and bicondylar angle on dry femurs and on digital radiographic plates among the population of eastern India. The study was carried out bilaterally on seventy adult dry femurs of unknown sex and also on fifty digital radiographic plates of known age and sex by using Martin’s sliding calipers, diaptograph and sigma view software. Among the different parameters, transverse and vertical dimensions of medial condyle and intercondylar width showed significant bilateral asymmetry. From radiologic evaluation, it has been observed that only bicondylar width showed sexual dimorphism on both sides. The present study also reported significant asymmetry in bicondylar width between the two sides in males but not in females, whereas comparison of bicondylar angle between right and left sides revealed significant difference in females in contrast to males. The present study may help in manufacturing a properly sized implant and also help the surgeons during instrumentation of lower end of femur.