Normal Tibial Metaphyseal-diaphyseal Angle of Nigerians

Abstract

A total of 219 anterior-posterior radiographs of the knees of 111 males and 108 females were used in measure the metaphyseal-diaphyseal angle (MDA) using the Levine-Drennan technique. The mean MDA for males was 1.55 ± 1.2 degrees and 1.4±1.2 degrees for females. These values where noted to be higher in those aged 0-5years for both sexes. After this age, the MDA gradually approaches the neutral angle of degrees. There was no significant difference between the mean MDA for males and females (P>0.05). The MDA for both males and females was also shown to correlate positively (r=0.6891 indicating that sex does not impact significantly on the value of the angle.