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Radius of curvature at the talocrural joint surface: inference of subject-specific kinematics

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Abstract

Purpose

The coupled behavior of talocrural joint motion is primarily determined by the morphological features of the talar trochlea and tibiofibular mortise. Features of the radius of curvature of the talocrural joint, however, remain unclear. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the radius of curvature at the mid, medial, and lateral regions of both the talar trochlea and the tibial plafond, and to estimate subject-specific kinematics of the talocrural joint.

Methods

Computed tomography images of 44 subjects with healthy talocrural joints were assessed by creating three-dimensional bone models. The radii of curvature of the anterior and posterior regions at the mid, medial, and lateral regions of both the talar trochlea and the tibial plafond were calculated. Hypothetical dorsiflexion and plantarflexion axes of the talocrural joint were estimated from the shape of the talar trochlea. Orientations and distances of these axes were calculated.

Results

At both the talar trochlea and the tibial plafond, the anteromedial and posteromedial radii exhibited the largest coefficients of variation. The anterior-to-posterior radius ratio (APRR) of the medial talar trochlea significantly correlated with the mid APRR, anterior medial-to-lateral radius ratio (MLRR), and posterior MLRR of the trochlea (r = 0.45, 0.52, − 0.60, respectively, and all P < 0.01).

Conclusions

The asymmetric shape of the medial talar trochlea seems to determine a fixed or changing axis of rotation at the talocrural joint. This subject-specific rotational axis of the talocrural joint should be considered in the management of patients with ankle injuries.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Mr. Tsutomu Horiuchi, Mr. Shinya Owada, and Mr. Taketoshi Tsunemaru from the Department of Imaging Diagnosis at Obihiro Kyokai Hospital for providing computed tomography images. This work was supported by Grants-in-Aid from the Research Committee of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan (#15ek0109058h002).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Sports Medicine, Hokkaido Obihiro Kyokai Hospital, South-9, East-5, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-0805, Japan

    Shuhei Nozaki, Takuya Kato, Tsuyoshi Miyakawa & Tomoaki Kamiya

  2. Second Division of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Sapporo Medical University, South-1, West-17, Chu-Ou-Ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-8556, Japan

    Shuhei Nozaki, Kota Watanabe & Masaki Katayose

  3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, South-1, West-16, Chu-Ou-Ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-8543, Japan

    Tsuyoshi Miyakawa & Tomoaki Kamiya

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  1. Shuhei Nozaki
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  2. Kota Watanabe
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  3. Takuya Kato
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  4. Tsuyoshi Miyakawa
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  5. Tomoaki Kamiya
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  6. Masaki Katayose
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Contributions

SN: Project development, data collection, data analysis, manuscript writing. KW: Data collection and management, manuscript editing. TK: Data collection, data analysis. TM: Data management, manuscript editing. TK: Data management, manuscript editing. MK: Project development, manuscript editing.

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Correspondence to Shuhei Nozaki.

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The authors have no conflict of interest with regard to this work.

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Nozaki, S., Watanabe, K., Kato, T. et al. Radius of curvature at the talocrural joint surface: inference of subject-specific kinematics. Surg Radiol Anat 41, 53–64 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-018-2098-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-018-2098-x

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