Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Femoral anteversion measured by ultrasound and CT: a comparative study

  • Articles
  • Published:
Skeletal Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Both computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography have been used successfully to estimate the femoral anteversion (AV) angle. In this study, AV angles in 20 human adult femurs were determined by ultrasonography and CT and the measurements compared. On CT the real AV angle was measured as the angle between the head-neck centreline and the posterior condylar plane. In addition, the angle between the anterior head-trochanter (HT) tangent and the posterior condylar plane was determined. The latter angle was also measured by ultrasonography using the tilted transducer technique. The mean interobserver variation in the ultrasound measurements was 1.9°. We found ultrasonography to correlate very well with CT, both when comparing with the HT angle (r=0.95) and with the AV angle (r=0.93). The HT angle was on average 4° greater than the AV angle. In this study the accuracy of ultrasonography was ±5° and the method is recommended for screening in patients with rotational disorders of the femur.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wissing H, Spira G. Determination of rotational defects of the femur by computer tomographic determination of the antetorsion angle of the femoral neck. Unfallchirurgie 1986; 12: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Dunlap K, Shands A, Hollister L, Gaul S, Streit H. A new method for determination of torsion of the femur. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 1953; 35: 289.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Høiseth A, Reikerås O, Fønstelien E. Evaluation of three methods for measurement of femoral neck anteversion. Femoral neck anteversion, definition, measuring methods and errors. Acta Radiol 1989; 30: 69.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Rippstein J. Zur Bestimmung der Antetorsion des Schenkelhalses mittels zweier Röntgenaufnahmen. Z Orthop 1955; 86: 345.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Terjesen T, Anda S. Femoral anteversion in children measured by ultrasound. Acta Orthop Scand 1987; 58: 403.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Terjesen T, Anda S, Rønningen H. Ultrasound examination for measurement of femoral anteversion in children. Skeletal Radiol 1993; 22: 33.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Terjesen T, Anda S, Svenningsen S. Femoral anteversion in adolescents and adults measured by ultrasound. Clin Orthop 1990; 256: 274.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Anda S, Terjesen T, Sundalsfoll S, Tangerud Å. Femoral anteversion measured by ultrasonography and radiography. An anatomic investigation. Acta Radiol 1988; 29: 695.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Baratelli M, Cabitza P, Parrini L. Ultrasonography and computerized tomography in the determination of the femoral angle of anteversion. Experimental and clinical comparative study. Radiol Med 1985; 71: 413.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Berman L, Mitchell R, Katz D. Ultrasound assessment of femoral anteversion. A comparison with computerised tomography. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 1987; 69: 268.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Clarac JP, Pries P, Laine M, Richer JP, Freychet H, Goubault F, Barret D, Hurmic A, Vandermarcq P, Drouineau J. Measurement of antetorsion of the femoral neck by ultrasonics. Comparison with X-ray computed tomography. Rev Chir Orthop 1985; 71: 365.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Lausten GS, Jørgensen F, Boesen J. Measurement of anteversion of the femoral neck. Ultrasound and computerised tomography compared. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 1989; 71: 237.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Murphy SB, Simon SR, Kijewski PK, Wilkinson RH, Griscom NT. Femoral anteversion. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 1987; 69: 1169.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Morvan G, Testard S, Busson J, Cartier S. Computed tomographic measurement of the angle of torsion of the femoral neck. Experimental reliability study on dry bone. Rev Chir Orthop 1987; 73:511.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Bråten M, Terjesen T, Rossvoll I. Femoral anteversion in normal adults. Ultrasound measurements in 50 men and 50 women. Acta Orthop Scand 1992; 63: 29.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Upadhyay SS, O'Neil T, Burwell RG, Moulton A. A new method using medical ultrasound for measuring femoral anteversion (torsion): technique and reliability. An intraobserver and inter-observer study on dried bones from human adults. J Anat 1987; 155: 119.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway

    A. Aamodt M.D., T. Terjesen M.D., Ph.D. & J. Eine M.Sc.

  2. Department of Radiology, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway

    K. A. Kvistad M.D.

Authors
  1. A. Aamodt M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. T. Terjesen M.D., Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Eine M.Sc.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. K. A. Kvistad M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Aamodt, A., Terjesen, T., Eine, J. et al. Femoral anteversion measured by ultrasound and CT: a comparative study. Skeletal Radiol. 24, 105–109 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00198071

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00198071

Key words

Search

Navigation