title: Clinical evaluation of hip joint in sagittal plane using pelvifemoral angle.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pelvifemoral angle has been described in early literature but the values have not been validated and no mention of distal bony point has been made.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients attending the Orthopaedic Outpatient in our hospital with complaints not related to the hip or knee were included in this study. Exclusion criteria included patients with history of hip pathology (Unilateral or Bilateral) and patients with Pelvis or Lower Limb fractures (Unilateral or Bilateral. Measurements were taken using a measuring tape, and angles were measured using a Goniometer Authors describe two clinical measurements of the hip joint in sagittal plane using Nelaton's line as reference for pelvis and line joining greater trochanter to 1. Superolateral pole of patella (α angle) and 2. Fibular head (β angle). Three hundred normal hips of 150 individuals were included in this study and angles were measured in supine and standing position.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean values of these angles (in supine and standing) were 67 ± 1° (α angle) and 51 ± 1° (β angle) in males and 72 ± 2° (α angle) and 58 ± 2° (β angle) in females. These angles are independent of age, height, weight and hence, the body mass index of a person.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Authors are describing a simple yet accurate method of quantifying the clinical pelvifemoral angle which will reflect upon the fixed flexion deformity at the hip in unilateral/bilateral pathological hip cases where other conventional methods are either unreliable or painful to perform.
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Orthopedics, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal University, India.
authors.forename: B Jagannath
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kamath
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopedics, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal University, India.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Saraswati
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopedics, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal University, India.
authors.forename: Ankush
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bansal
authors.affiliation: Intern, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal University, India.
authors.forename: Vishal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pai
keywords: Fixed flexion deformity; Nelaton's line; Thomas test