Femoral Intercondylar Notch Geometry of Nigerians

Abstract

Ninety-four cadaveric femoral bones consisting of 60 males and 34 females type were collected and treated for preservation through standard procedures. Using the caliper method, the intercondylar notch width, Notch depth and diameter of distal end of femur were measured. The notch shape index and notch width index were also calculated. The mean notch depth was found to be 3.30 + 0.14 for the 94 femur bones. It was found to be 3.23 + 0.14 for male and 3.37 + 0.20 for females. The sex differences in notch depth were statistically insignificant (P>0.05). The diameter of the distal end of femur was 7.98 + 0.60 for male bones and 7.85+ 0.55 for female bones and the difference between male and female proved statistically significant (P<0.05). The Notch width as measured was 2.31 + 0.21 for males and 2.21 + 0.24 for females and sex difference in value proved insignificant (P>0.05). The notch shape index (NSI) was calculated by dividing the notch width with notch depth. The Notch width index (NWI) was calculated by dividing the notch width with the diameter of the distal end of femur and the difference in value between male and female (NWI) proved statistically significant (P<0.05). The notch geometry had been implicated in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and from this study we presume that the difference in incidence of ACL injuries between males and females is as a result of differences in intercondylar notch width index and the diameter of distal end of femur in both sexes.