Anteversion of adult femora in Gujarat population

Among all the bones femur is most attended to. The most conspicuous peculiarity of femur being anteversion of neck which goes hand in hand with the evolution of the erect posture. Femoral anteversion (torsion) is the lateral rotation of the neck of femur to the long axis of its shaft. The objective measurement of this angle is of paramount importance in total hip replacement surgery for attaining the normal activity and longevity of the replaced joint. It is an important factor for the performance and longevity of these joints too. Angle of anteversion is measured in adult Gujarat dried femora. The present study is an attempt to evaluate the normal anteversion range in adult Gujarat femora.

Two hundred ossified femora belonging to skeletons of unknown age, sex, and stature from Gujarat population were used in this study. 200 femora were studied from anatomy department of Smt. N.H.L municipal medical college, Ahmedabad. Out of 200 femora, 123 were of right side and 77 were of left side.

The angle of femoral anteversion was measured by a method described by Pearson and Bell (1919). The axis of the knee was taken by placing the femur with the posterior surfaces of the condyles and the trochanter touching the surface of the osteometric board. In this position the posterior surfaces of the femoral condyles and the plane of the horizontal surface of the board give serviceable approximation to the orientation of the transverse axis of the knee as both are parallel.

The angle of anteversion in the present series was 9.7 degrees which was quite lower figure than English figures (15 degrees). Range of variation in anteversion angle was from 31 to -16 which is very wide. There was no significant difference in mean values of angle of torsion on either side in the entire series.

On comparison with the series of other workers there was variation in the average means of the series. It revealed that maximum value of mean was 30.6 degree (Fair bank 1930) and minimum as 8.10 degrees (Kingsley and Olmsted 1984). Kate and Robert (1963) have examined 104 bones and the mean average calculated was 8.8 degrees while that of our series of 200 femora was 9.7 degree. The range of variation was 51 degree to -12 degree. According to LeDamany (1903 & 1914) and Altmann (1924) in foetal life the angle of femoral anteversion is negative i.e. at 17 mm stage – 10 degree and at 60 mm stage 0 degree and just after 4^th month 12 degree. The percentage of retroversion calculated was 7.50 in the present study and was nearly the same as reported by Kate and Robert (1963). On comparison with others it revealed that it was less in the series of Lofgren, while frequent and significant in the series of Kingsley and Olmsted (1948).

Clinical studies would possibly show some similarity or difference of angle on two sides. The mean angle for left (9.09 degrees) has been recorded lesser then right side (10.08 degrees). The angle of retroversion was present in 7.50%.