A Morphologic Study Of The Lateral Femoral Notch In Chinese Population

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to elucidate the lateral femoral notch by morphologic research in clinical application.Would the depth of lateral femoral condyle which exceed 1.5mm be the indirect evidence for the diagnosis of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury or lateral meniscus tearKnowing the relationship between anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury or lateral meniscus tear and the depth of lateral femoral condyle would prevent more damege and fracture.Materials and MethodsThe morphologic measurement of the lateral femoral notch was determined in knee's radiograph of 18-40 age range living in northeast China. The radiograph of knees was collected from 48 normal individuals (each of 24 men and women) with no pathologies of inferior members, and 8 patients with a diagnostic of cruciate ligament injury or lateral meniscus tear. These samples were divided into three groups:the group 1 is 48 normal knee's radiograph of 24 male sex individuals; the group 2 is 48 normal knee's radiographs of 24 female sex individuals; the group 3 is 16 abnormal knee's radiographs of 8 patients.The morphometric analysis had been femoral bicondylar width, widths of condylopatellar notch to the level of the popliteal groove and the notch base, condylopatellar notch height and the width of lateral femoral condyle. The depth of lateral femoral notch was measured on the lateral radiograph by drawing a tangent line across the sulcus on the articular surface of the lateral femoral condyle. The depth of the sulcus is then measured perpendicular to this line at its deepest point.ResultsThe analysis of comparing the depth of lateral femoral notch, the mean depth of normal people is 0.5638mm, the mean depth of abnormal people is 1.4063mm,the depth of abnormals is 3 times of the normals, the depth of male is greater than female.DiscussionThe morphologic variations of lateral femoral notch depth have been reported in the specialized literature as one of the predisposing mechanisms to injuries of ACL. In spite of statistically non significant, the results of some authors demonstrate that depth of the lateral condylopatellar sulcus is different according to the race, the age, and sex, the reason of this morphological variation is a shape of femoral diaphysis dissimilarity. Theoretically, the lower femoral curvature causes an upward rotation of femoral condyles, producing a higher notch. The measurement of depth of the lateral sulcus is needed to identify participant-specific tissue properties via laxity testing and to validate the computational models.This study observed that the lateral femoral notch depth was greater in injured cruciate ligament and lateral meniscus. The acute tear of ACL is common in sports requiring frequent that rotational movements, jumps or rough stops. It is a belief that the morphology of the lateral condylopatellar notch can predispose the injuries of ACL, and its morphometry analysis could provide important data to be used in the prevention and prognostic of these injuries.Conclusion1. The mean values of the measured depth and width of lateral femoral notch for 24 male sex individuals were 0.64 mm and 12.58 mm. For 24 female sex individuals, the mean values of the measured depth and width of lateral femoral notch were 0.49 mm and 11.79 mm, respectively. In 8 patients with a diagnostic of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury or lateral meniscus tear, the mean values of the measured depth and width of lateral femoral notch were 1.41 mm and 15.85 mm, respectively. For normal individuals, the depth of lateral femoral notch of males presented higher values than females. The values of depth and width of lateral femoral notch was show differences between the males and females. The depth of lateral femoral notch presented higher values in patients of knees injury.2. The lateral femoral notch sign is a finding that can be seen on the lateral radiograph or MRI of the knee. Depending on the study it has been suggested that the lateral notch greater than 1.41 mm is highly suggestive of ACL injury and lateral meniscus tear. The results of morphological studies presented that depth of the lateral femoral notch is different according to the race, the age, and sex.