title: [Computerized tomography measurement of torsion angle of the lower extremities].
abstract: The precise evaluation of post-traumatic deformities is indispensable when planning a corrective osteotomy. Torsional angles of the lower extremities of 186 patients were measured using CT. The mean age of the studied population was 34 years (18-80). It consisted of 131 men and 55 women. All patients had sustained a fracture of at least one of the leg's bony segments. The normal femoral (n = 293) inward torsion measured 23.47 degrees +/- 17.16 degrees (mean +/- 2 SD). Normal tibia (n = 263) outward torsion was 34.03 degrees +/- 17.22 degrees. The intraindividual torsional differences were not normally distributed. Normal femoral (n = 103) intraindividual torsional difference measured 11 degrees (95% percentile) and 15 degrees (99% percentile), with a median of 4 degrees. The tibiae (n = 76) showed a normal intraindividual torsional difference of 12 degrees (95% percentile) and 15 degrees (99% percentile). Right tibiae showed a statistically significant greater outward rotation when compared to their left counterpart (P < 0.001). No correlation to sex could be established. Preoperative planning of a corrective osteotomy should include the geometric evaluation of all four bony segments of the leg. Intraindividual torsional differences must be considered. A corrective osteotomy appears to be unnecessary with a torsional difference smaller than 15 degrees in the femora and smaller than 15 degrees in the tibiae.
authors: Abteilung für Unfallchirurgie, Universitätsklinik Ulm.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Strecker
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Franzreb
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Pfeiffer
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Pokar
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Wikström
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Kinzl
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010027:Osteotomy; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014102:Torsion Abnormality
vernacular_title: Computertomographische Torsionswinkelbestimmung der unteren Extremitäten.