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The trapezoid form of the trochlea tali

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Abstract

The wedge-shaped superior surface of the trochlea tali may be seen in a proximal view as a trapezium. The angle of this trapezium was calculated by measuring the length, and the smallest and largest widths of the trochlea, and was found to be 16.04° for the left talus and 12.48° for the right talus, respectively. The difference between these angles is highly significant. Due to biomechanical features of the talocrural joint an increase in the angle of the trochlea tali also intensifies the incongruency of this joint in plantar-flexion. Thus, this incongruency is larger on the left side. With this diminution of the joint-surface contact, increased internal rotation or "wobbling" movements are possible. An explanation for these facts might be found in footedness, similar to handedness. When constructing a prosthesis one has to consider that the trochlea tali cannot be exactly mirrored from one side to the other but may have to be calculated separately for each side. The fact that footedness seems to correlate with the angle of the trochlea tali can be also helpful.

Résumé

Les contours de la surface de la trochlée du talus peuvent la faire concevoir comme un trapèze en vue proximale. L'angle de ce trapèze a été calculé en mesurant la longueur, la plus petite et la plus grande largeur de la trochlée, et les résultats étaient 16,04° pour le côté gauche et 12,48° pour le côté droit. La différence entre ces angles est hautement significative. Compte tenu des conditions biomécaniques de l'articulation talo-crurale, une augmentation de l'angle de la trochlée du talus accroît l'incongruence de cette articulation en flexion plantaire. Cependant, cette incongruence est plus importante du côté gauche. La diminution de la surface de contact intra-articulaire rend possible une augmentation de la rotation interne ou des mouvements d'inclinaison. Le cahier des charges de la conception d'une prothèse doit prendre en compte le fait que la trochlée du talus n'est pas exactement symétrique entre les deux côtés mais que sa forme doit être calculée. Le fait que les conditions de l'appui monopodal semblent corrélées avec l'angle de la trochlée du talus constitue un argument supplémentaire utile.

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Fig. 1.
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Fig. 3A-C.

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Notes

  1. \(dTa5 = {{Ti\left( 3 \right) \times Ta4} \over {100}};{\rm where }Ta4 = {{99 \times Ta4_{{\rm left}} + 99 \times Ta4_{{\rm right}} } \over {99 \times 2}} = 34.87mm\)

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Acknowledgement

We very much appreciate the assistance of ao. Univ. Prof. Dr. Sepp Poisel for his help in language editing.

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  1. Institute of Anatomy and Histology, Leopold Franzens University Innsbruck, Müllerstrasse 59, 6010, Innsbruck, Austria

    E. Brenner, J. Piegger & W. Platzer

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  1. E. Brenner
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  2. J. Piegger
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  3. W. Platzer
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Correspondence to E. Brenner.

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Brenner, E., Piegger, J. & Platzer, W. The trapezoid form of the trochlea tali. Surg Radiol Anat 25, 216–225 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-003-0122-1

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