Morphometry of the talocrural joint

Abstract

Based on two orthogonal radiologic views, the authors present a morphometric study of the talocrural joint. In 50 normal subjects, 10 parameters were measured and divided into 3 groups: the distal tibial joint surface parameters, the malleolar parameters and the talar parameters. These parameters were treated in both a descriptive and a correlative analysis. If the talocrural joint is a hinge joint whose talar articular surface can be simplified and classed as a cylinder segment, it is possible to calculate its curve radius. Then the correlative analysis allows to define the talar parameters and the corresponding parameters of the distal tibial joint surface. The malleolar parameters are independent factors. This study is the first morphologic analysis to serve as a basis for an ankle arthroplasty.