Morphometric Parameters of the Distal End of the Femur: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

BACKGROUND

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, progressive condition that significantly impairs quality of life. The femoral component of the total knee arthroplasty (TKA) implant is a key intervention for alleviating OA-related morbidity, requiring precise anatomical considerations to ensure effective outcomes.

METHODS

This study aimed to document the morphometric parameters of the distal femur in the North Indian population using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It specifically focused on measuring these parameters in healthy adults and analyzing the variations based on age and sex. An observational study was conducted utilizing MRI scans of 70 healthy adults of both sexes.

RESULTS

Morphometric parameters of femoral anteroposterior diameter, femoral posterior condylar length, femoral lateral anteroposterior distance, and femoral medial anteroposterior distance of distal end femur showed higher values in men compared with women (p < 0.001). Younger male patients displayed higher values than female patients, compared to male patients in the more than 30 years age group.

CONCLUSION

Significant gender differences were observed in the study, which highlights the importance of designing femoral components of TKA prostheses that account for anatomical variations of the particular population in question, to potentially improve implant stability and longevity for the patient.