title: High Femoral Anteversion Is Related to Femoral Trochlea Dysplasia.
abstract: To investigate the possible relation between femoral anteversion (AV) and trochlear morphology.
  
  
  
  Among 560 available lower-limb computed tomography (CT) scans, those with previous fracture, arthroplasty, or osteotomy were excluded and 40 cases were randomly selected. The following 4 lines were determined from the CT scans: 1 through the center of the femoral head and neck; 1 through the lesser trochanter and the center of the femoral shaft; 1 as a tangent to the dorsal part of the distal femur, just above the gastrocnemius insertion; and 1 as a tangent to the posterior condyles. Between the respective lines, the following parameters of femoral AV were determined: (1) total AV, (2) proximal AV, (3) diaphyseal AV, and (4) distal AV. Trochlea parameters were determined from 2 separate axial CT slices (proximal trochlea and 5 mm farther distally): trochlea height (medial, central, lateral), transverse trochlea shift, trochlea depth, sulcus angle, lateral trochlea slope, and Dejour trochlea type. To prove or disprove our study hypothesis, a correlation analysis was performed between the variables of AV and trochlear morphology.
  
  
  
  The total AV was significantly correlated with the trochlea parameters trochlea depth (P = .032), sulcus angle (P = .05), and lateral trochlea slope (P = .001). The diaphyseal AV was significantly correlated with the sulcus angle (P = .009). The distal AV showed significant correlations with medial, central, and lateral trochlea height (.005 <P < .032) and with Dejour trochlea type (P = .043).
  
  
  
  The morphology of the trochlea is significantly related to femoral AV. Increased AV is associated with a flatter, more dysplastic trochlea. This was particularly true for AV located at the distal femur.
  
  
  
  Level III, diagnostic study of nonconsecutive patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Michael Christian
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Liebensteiner
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ressler
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Krankenhaus Oberndorf, Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seitlinger
authors.affiliation: Center of Diagnostic Radiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Djurdjevic
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: El Attal
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: peter.ferlic@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Peter Wilhelm
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Ferlic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D060750:Bone Anteversion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D010329:Patella / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies