Patellar tracking and patellofemoral geometry in deep knee flexion.
Patellar tracking and femoral condylar geometry in deep knee flexion were evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging. The patellar tilting angle, patellar shift, and patellar anteroposterior translation from 0 degrees to 135 degrees flexion were measured. The depth of the femoral condylar articular surface and the curvature of the femoral condylar articular surface also were measured at 135 degrees flexion. The patella shifted laterally, tilted medially, and sank deeply into the intercondylar notch during deep knee flexion. The articular surface of the lateral condyle, existing deep within the intercondylar notch, began to curve steeply at a point farther from the center of the intercondylar notch than did the medial condyle. The geometry of the femoral condyle is adequate to fit the patellar geometry. Results of the current study suggest that the geometry of the lateral femoral condyle allows the patella to track smoothly with a larger patellofemoral contact area and less patellofemoral pressure during deep flexion.
Moro-oka
Takaaki
T
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu Sangyo University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Matsuda
Shuichi
S
Miura
Hiromasa
H
Nagamine
Ryuji
R
Urabe
Ken
K
Kawano
Tsutomu
T
Higaki
Hidehiko
H
Iwamoto
Yukihide
Y
D000328:Adult; D005269:Femur / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010329:Patella / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity