Three-dimensional reconstruction method for measuring the knee valgus angle of the femur in northern Chinese adults

• Published in: Journal of Zhejiang University. B. Science Vol. 15; no. 8; pp. 720 - 726
• Main Authors: Liu, Tong, Wang, Chen-yu, Xiao, Jian-lin, Zhu, Lan-yu, Li, Xue-zhou, Qin, Yan-guo, Gao, Zhong-li
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hangzhou Zhejiang University Press 01.08.2014; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Angiography; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Biomechanical Phenomena; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; China; Female; Femur - anatomy & histology; Femur - diagnostic imaging; Femur - physiology; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Anatomic; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Reference Values; Retrospective Studies; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; 中国北方成人; Three-dimensional reconstruction femoral model; Total knee arthroplasty; 股骨三维重建模型; Knee valgus angle; R687.4; 膝外翻角; Northern Chinese adults; 膝关节置换术; Preoperative design; 术前设计
• ISSN: 1673-1581; 1862-1783; 1862-1783
• DOI: 10.1631/jzus.B1400019

The purpose of this study was to establish a method for measuring the knee valgus angle from the anatomical and mechanical axes on three-dimensional reconstruction imaging models, and to use this method for estimating an average knee valgus angle value for northern Chinese adults. Computed tomographic angiography data in DICOM format for 128 normal femurs from 64 adult subjects were chosen for analysis. After the femur images were subjected to three-dimensional reconstruction, the deepest point in the intercondylar notch (point A), the midpoint of the medullary cavity 20 cm above the knee-joint line (point B), and the landmark of the femoral head rotation center (point C) were identified on each three-dimensional model. The knee valgus angle was defined as the angle enclosed by the distal femoral anatomical axis (line AB) and the femoral mechanical axis (line AC). The average (mean±SD) of knee valgus angle for the 128 femurs was 6.20°±1.20° (range, 3.05° to 10.64°). Significant positive correlations were found between the knee valgus angles of the right and left sides and between the knee valgus angle and age. During total knee arthroplasty, choosing a valgus cut angle of approximately 6° may achieve a good result in reestablishing the natural mechanical alignment of the lower extremity for patients of northern Chinese ethnicity. Larger valgus cut angles should be chosen for older patients.