Abstract
Background
The purpose of this study was to investigate the morphology characteristic of proximal femur of Chinese people. 170 healthy Southern Chinese hips being measured using 3D computer tomographic, in order to improve prosthesis design and preoperation plan of total hip arthroplasty.
Methods
This study measured proximal femoral geometry in 85 healthy Southern Chinese, included 39 women (78 hips) and 46 men (92 hips) (mean age: 33.9 y, mean height: 164.7 cm, mean weight 59.9 kg). Medullary canal morphology measurements, include: the position of isthmus, medial-lateral(ML) and anteroposterior(AP) medullary canal diameter of isthmus and 20 mm, 10 mm, 0 mm, −20 mm, −160 mm, −200 mm upon less trochanter(LT) (medullary canal height, MCH), canal flare index(CFI), aspect ratio(ML/AP), epiphysis-shaft angel (ES angel) (a posterior bow in the metapysis in lateral view). Exterior morphology measurements include: femoral head offset, ML and UD diameter, femoral head position(FHP) from LT, height of the femoral head center from the tip of the great trochanter(GT)(FHCH), femoral neck and head anteversion angle, femoral neck-shaft angle, neck length, neck width, intertrochanteric length (Fig 1, Fig 2). And then we use student's t–test to compare means, linear regression and correlation to analysis these data's relationship, p value <0.05 indicated a significant effect.
Results
Males had a larger diameter of medullary canal than females (Fig3). The isthmus position is 117.69±11.95 VS 111.14±13.01 mm (male VS female) (p=0.070) below less trochanter, and it's ML diameter is 9.57±1.52 VS 8.88±1.80 mm (p=0.151), AP diameter is 11.85±2.68 VS 10.53±2.49 mm (p=0.073). The mean medullary canal aspect ratio is 1.38±0.20, 1.30±0.12, 1.15±0.13, 1.03±0.09, 0.84±0.11, 0.87±.011 and 1.04±0.17 respectively at 20 mm, 10 mm, 0 mm, −20 mm, isthmus, −160 mm, −200 mm upon less trochanter. The medullary canal diameter were positively correlated to MCH (R=0.793, p=0.000 VS R=0.790, p=0.000) (ML VS AP). The ES angle is 156.78±4.29 VS 157.90±4.90 degree (p=0.395) (male VS female). The femoral head offset is 39.14±3.87 VS 35.86±3.68 mm (p=0.003), femoral neck, head and comprehensive anteversion angle is 18.34±8.07 VS 17.9±10.64 degree (p=0.872), −2.61±6.47 VS −2.36±5.55 degree (p=0.881) and 15.73±7.26 VS 15.54±8.54 degree (p=0.934). FHP is 51.67±7.82 VS 45.37±5.59 mm (p=0.001), FHCH is −6.77±5.58 VS −6.13±4.87 mm (p=0.665), femoral head diameter is (ML: 43.94±2.62 VS 39.25±2.66 mm (p=0.000), UD: 45.16±1.96 VS 41.26±2.23 mm (p=0.000)). Femoral neck-shaft is 130.10±4.57 VS 130.83±6.40 degree (p=0.652), femoral neck length and width is 21.84±4.87 VS 20.69±3.41 mm (p=0.322) and 34.75±2.26 VS 31.80±2.63 mm (p=0.000), femoral intertrochanteric length is 68.11±4.72 VS 61.27±5.04 mm (p=0.000), most of these dimensions were positively correlated to height.
Conclusion
Males had a larger medullary canal than females, the long diameter of medullary canal is transverse at proximal femoral, and it gradually become longitudinal when move to isthmus then become transverse again below isthmus, this may offer valuable revelation for our anti-rotation design and better distal fixation. The medullary canal diameter were positively correlated to MCH. 71% (121 hips) femoral heads had a retroversion angle compare to femoral neck. The femoral head rotation center is below the tip of the GT rather than on the same level that may suggested a shorter neck implants for Southern Chinese patients.
