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Symmetry of the canine femur: Implications for experimental sample size requirements
Author(s) -
Sumner Dale R.,
Turner Thomas M.,
Galante Jorge O.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1002/jor.1100060519
Subject(s) - symmetry (geometry) , femur , sample size determination , sample (material) , materials science , mathematics , physics , geology , statistics , geometry , paleontology , thermodynamics
The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of bilateral variability in cross‐sectional geometric properties of the adult canine proximal femur and to use these data to deterrmine minimum detectable treatment effects in paired and independent experimental designs. Thirteen paris of canine femora were sectioned at nine locations and 16 cross‐sectional geometric properties were determined for each section location. The canine femur was found to be bilaterally symmetrical. For a given sample size, the magnitude of the detectable treatment effect was (a) smaller for diameters than for areas and area moments of inertia and (b) smaller within the middiaphysis than proximally. The data from this study can be used to estimate sample size requirements for experiments in which the treatment effect is determined by using the contralateral femur as a control. It was found that an increase from 3 to 7 animals would have a much greater effect on improving the sensitivity of an experiment than would an increase from 7 to 11 animals.