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Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®
Published in: Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® 3/2010

01-03-2010 | Clinical Research

The Geometry of the Trochlear Groove

Authors: Farhad Iranpour, MD, Azhar M. Merican, BM, MS(Orth), Wael Dandachli, MRCS, Andrew A. Amis, DSc(Eng), Justin P. Cobb, FRCS

Published in: Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® | Issue 3/2010

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Abstract

Background

In the natural and prosthetic knees the position, shape, and orientation of the trochlea groove are three of the key determinants of function and dysfunction, yet the rules governing these three features remain elusive.

Questions/Purpose

The aim was to define the three-dimensional geometry of the femoral trochlea and its relation to the tibiofemoral joint in terms of angles and distances.

Methods

Forty CT scans of femurs of healthy patients were analyzed using custom-designed imaging software. After aligning the femur using various axes, the locations and orientations of the groove and the trochlear axis were examined in relation to the conventional axes of the femur.

Results

The trochlear groove was circular and positioned laterally in relation to the mechanical, anatomic, and transcondylar axes of the femur; it was not aligned with any of these axes. We have defined the trochlear axis as a line joining the centers of two spheres fitted to the trochlear surfaces lateral and medial to the trochlear groove. When viewed after aligning the femur to this new axis, the trochlear groove appeared more linear than when other methods of orientation were used.

Conclusions

Our study shows the importance of reliable femoral orientation when reporting the shape of the trochlear groove.
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Metadata
Title
The Geometry of the Trochlear Groove
Authors
Farhad Iranpour, MD
Azhar M. Merican, BM, MS(Orth)
Wael Dandachli, MRCS
Andrew A. Amis, DSc(Eng)
Justin P. Cobb, FRCS
Publication date
01-03-2010
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® / Issue 3/2010
Print ISSN: 0009-921X
Electronic ISSN: 1528-1132
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-009-1156-4

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