Femoral neck shaft angles: A radiological anthropometry study.

BACKGROUND

Most of the available orthopaedic implants were designed and manufactured based on data from Western population whose skeletal dimensions are different from those of Africans.

OBJECTIVES

This study was conducted to determine the value of the neck-shaft angle (NSA) of Nigerians living in Lagos for the purpose of adequate planning, preparation, and pre-operative selection of orthopaedic implants for surgeries involving the femoral neck and stocking of orthopaedic implants in hospitals located in resource poor countries like Nigeria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective study which involved measuring the NSAs of anterior-posterior views of pelvic radiographs of adult patients reported "normal study" by the radiologist.

RESULTS

A total of 264 femoral necks were analysed from 132 patients' radiographs comprising of 68 males and 64 females. The average NSA for an adult Nigerian living in Lagos is 130.77° ± 6.03° with mean NSA value of 131.28° ± 6.56° for the right and 130.22° ± 5.18° for the left. The mean value of NSA for an adult male is 131.57° ± 5.66° whereas the mean value for an adult female is 129.97° ± 6.33°.

CONCLUSION

The value of NSA obtained from this study should be considered during the surgical fixation of the neck of femur fractures or osteotomies around the neck of the femur of adult Nigerians. It should also be noted during designing and bioengineering construction of orthopaedic implants and hip prosthesis for Nigerians.