The femoral sulcus angle in neonatal cadavers: a macroscopical and ultrasonographical study.

The shape of the femoral sulcus is an important factor in patellofemoral congruence. The aim of the present study was to investigate the femoral sulcus angle using neonatal cadavers through ultrasonographic and macroscopic observations, in order to evaluate the differences between those two methods and also in order to compare them with adult data published previously. Both knees of 20 neonatal cadavers were examined to measure the femoral sulcus angle. The mean cartilaginous femoral sulcus angle was 145.77 degrees on the macroscopic measurements, and 146 degrees in the ultrasonographic examinations. There was no significant difference between neonatal and adult values and between ultrasonographic and macroscopic measurements (P > 0.05). In the most of the knees two condyles were symmetrical (92.5%). In conclusion the cartilaginous femoral sulcus angle is completely formed in the neonatal age group. Internal and external factors during childhood may be responsible for condylar dysplasia.