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Is the femoral lateral condyle’s bone morphology the trochlea of the ACL?

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of different osteoarticular femoral and tibial morphology and morphometric parameters with the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture.

Methods

Thirty-six patients (29 male and 7 female) with an ACL rupture (<6 months) and 36 age and sex-matched controls were included. The anatomomorphological parameters and morphometrics of the distal epiphysis of the femur and proximal epiphysis of the tibia were measured through conventional lateral radiography of the knee.

Results

It was found statistically significant smaller heights of femur’s lateral condyle, AP distances of the tibial plateaus and smaller XY and WX distances, as well as, higher XY/AB and B/AB ratios (p < 0.05). In turn, women had smaller AP distances of the femur’s lateral condyle, AP distances of the femur’s diaphysis, AP distances of the tibial plateaus and heights of femur’s lateral condyle, as well as, higher values of XY/AB (Porto ratio) and B/AB ratios (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Several femoral and tibial bone morphological parameters were identified as potential risk factors for sustaining an ACL injury. These parameters are clinically relevant to identify individuals with higher risk of ACL injury, decide between conservative or surgical treatment and identify individuals who may benefit from preventive neuromuscular programs.

Level of evidence

Case–control study, Level III.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Margarida Sá Fernandes

  2. Department of Pathology, Centro Hospitalar S. João, Porto, Portugal

    Margarida Sá Fernandes

  3. Faculty of Health Sciences, University Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal

    Rogério Pereira

  4. Clínica do Dragão, Espregueira-Mendes Sports Centre - FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, Porto, Portugal

    Rogério Pereira, Renato Andrade, Hélder Pereira & João Espregueira-Mendes

  5. Dom Henrique Research Centre, Porto, Portugal

    Rogério Pereira, Renato Andrade, Hélder Pereira & João Espregueira-Mendes

  6. Faculty of Sports, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Renato Andrade

  7. Orthopaedic and Trauma Department, Campus Biomedico University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Sebastiano Vasta

  8. Orthopaedic Department, Centro Hospitalar Póvoa de Varzim, Vila do Conde, Portugal

    Hélder Pereira

  9. 3B’s Research Group–Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017, Barco, Guimarães, Portugal

    Hélder Pereira & João Espregueira-Mendes

  10. ICVS/3B’s–PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal

    Hélder Pereira & João Espregueira-Mendes

  11. Physical Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra University, Coimbra, Portugal

    João Páscoa Pinheiro

  12. Orthopaedics Department, Minho University, Braga, Portugal

    João Espregueira-Mendes

Authors
  1. Margarida Sá Fernandes
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  2. Rogério Pereira
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  3. Renato Andrade
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  4. Sebastiano Vasta
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  5. Hélder Pereira
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  6. João Páscoa Pinheiro
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  7. João Espregueira-Mendes
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to João Espregueira-Mendes.

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Fernandes, M.S., Pereira, R., Andrade, R. et al. Is the femoral lateral condyle’s bone morphology the trochlea of the ACL?. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 25, 207–214 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-016-4159-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-016-4159-1

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