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Gender and condylar differences in distal femur morphometry clarified by automated computer analyses
Author(s) -
Li Kang,
Langdale Evan,
Tashman Scott,
Harner Christopher,
Zhang Xudong
Publication year - 2012
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.21575
Subject(s) - condyle , sagittal plane , femur , orthodontics , ellipse , mathematics , radius , medicine , anatomy , geometry , computer science , surgery , computer security
We elucidated the gender and condylar effects on distal femur morphology (DFM) while evaluating a newly developed computational framework that enables fully automated analyses of DFM in an objectively defined sagittal plane. Ninety high‐resolution CT‐acquired distal femur models from 51 males and 39 females were analyzed. The models were accurately characterized (mean least‐squares fitting residual <0.16 mm), and re‐oriented to a unified sagittal plane; three morphometric measures were extracted from each model: the semi‐major ( a ) and semi‐minor ( b ) axis lengths of the best‐fitted ellipse, and the radius ( r ) of the smallest flexion facet—a circle with the smallest radius best‐fitted to the posterior articulating surface. Statistical analyses employing nonparametric repeated‐measures ANOVA found: no significance difference between condyles or between limbs in any of the morphometric measures; significant gender effects on a , b , and r , but no gender effect on the aspect ratio ( a / b ). An inspection of statistical distributions of medial‐lateral condyle size differences also revealed a gender difference. The findings promote a better understanding of DFM and its relation to knee mechanics and have implications on computer‐aided surgery of the knee and gender‐specific implant design. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:686–692, 2012