An anatomico-morphometric analysis of proximal femur

Abstract

The proximal femur is an important area of interest as it is involved in the articulation of the hip joint and it contributes to the mechanics of locomotion and the weight bearing capacity of the femur. Pathologies like osteoporosis and fractures are common in this site, and surgical interventions like hip arthroplasty and internal fixtures with implants rely on knowledge about the anatomy of the proximal femur to ensure effective treatment. Hence, a greater understanding of these variations will be helpful in constructing better fitted prosthesis. In this study, six morphometric parameters of the proximal femur were studied and measured in 100 dry adult femur bones - head diameter, transverse diameter of fovea, longitudinal diameter of fovea, diameter of neck, intertrochanteric line length, neck shaft angle and correlations were noted. The data obtained is specific for the southern Indian population and hopes to aid in production of better fitted hip prostheses for patients.

Keywords: Anthropometry; femoral head; femur; hip joint; hip prosthesis; morphometry.