Analysis of the thickness and curvature of articular cartilage of the femoral condyle.
OBJECTIVE
To develop an optimal autologous osteochondral transplantation technique, we analyzed the thickness and curvature of the femoral condyle.


METHODS
Basic research for surgical technique, anatomic study.


METHODS
Eight cadaveric femoral condyles were sectioned sagittally into 8 slices. Photographs of each slice were digitized, and the thickness and curvature of the overlaying cartilage were analyzed using a National Institutes of Health image program.


RESULTS
The average thickness of the cartilage was 1.69 mm. The minimum and maximum values were measured at 0.22 mm and 3.65 mm, respectively, with the thinnest part seen in the sulcus terminalis (the groove for meniscus). The average curvature of the cartilage was 4.4 m(-1). The minimum and maximum values were measured at -20.0 m(-1) and 27.2 m(-1), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
When the chondral lesion is assumed at the weight bearing area of the medial or lateral femoral condyle, the anterior portion of the sulcus terminalis (the groove for meniscus) in the middle section of the lateral condyle is considered to be the optimal donor site.
Terukina
Mitsunobu
M
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Fujioka
Hiroyuki
H
Yoshiya
Shinichi
S
Kurosaka
Masahiro
M
Makino
Takeshi
T
Matsui
Nobuzo
N
Tanaka
Juichi
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005269:Femur / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D012016:Reference Values