title: Proximal femoral anatomy in total hip arthroplasty. A tri-planar computed tomographic assessment.
abstract: The relationship between the tip of the Greater Trochanter (GT) and the centre of the Femoral Head (FH) is commonly used as reference point to align the femoral component during hip arthroplasty. We performed tri-planar computed tomography analysis of the proximal femoral anatomy in a series of 150 patients (n = 150) to accurately delineate this relationship. The mean location for the centre of the FH was 8.64 mm (95% confidence interval, 9.44-7.83) distal to the tip of the GT. The centre of the FH was found to be distal to the tip of the GT in 90.6% of cases. Hence we would suggest caution in using the tip of the GT as a reference point during total hip arthroplasty as it could be associated with an inadvertent intraoperative leg lengthening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Cork University Hospital, Wilton Road, Cork, Ireland. dowite2003@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Adeel Rasool
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Memon
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: Shane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guerin
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Galbraith
authors.forename: Oisin
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Flanagan
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005270:Femur Head / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007870:Leg Length Inequality / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed