A Morphologic Study of the Lateral Femoral Notch in Chinese Population

作者：Liu, Zhi Bo^*; Bai, Xi Zhuang; Sun, Yu

来源：International Medical Journal, 2010, 17(4): 267-269.

• the lateral femoral notch
• anterior cruciate ligament injury
• lateral meniscus tear
• diagnostic imaging
• morphologic research

Objective: The objective of this study was to elucidate the lateral femoral notch by morphologic research in clinical application.
Design: A study of Orthopedic Surgery.
Materials and Methods: The morphologic measurement of the lateral femoral notch was determined in knee's radiograph of 18-40 age range living in northeast China. The radiograph of knees was collected from 48 normal individuals with no pathologies of inferior members, and 8 patients with a diagnostic of cruciate ligament injury or lateral meniscus tear. The depth of the lateral femoral notch was measured on the lateral radiograph by drawing a tangent line across the sulcus on the articular surface of the lateral femoral condyle. The depth of the sulcus is then measured perpendicular to this line at its deepest point.
Results: The mean values of the measured depth and width of lateral femoral notch for 24 male sex individuals were 0.64 mm and 12.58 mm. For 24 female sex individuals, the mean values of the measured depth and width of lateral femoral notch were 0.49 mm and 11.79 mm, respectively. In 8 patients with a diagnostic of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury or lateral meniscus tear, the mean values of the measured depth and width of lateral femoral notch were 1.41 mm and 15.85 mm, respectively. For normal individuals, the depth of lateral femoral notch of males presented higher values than females. The values of depth and width of lateral femoral notch did not show differences between the males and females. The depth of lateral femoral notch presented higher values in patients with knee injury.
Conclusion: The lateral femoral notch sign is a finding that can be seen on the lateral radiograph or MRI of the knee. Depending on the study it has been suggested that the lateral notch greater than 1.41 mm is highly suggestive of ACL injury and lateral meniscus tear. The results of morphological studies presented that depth of the lateral femoral notch is different according to the race, the age, and sex.

• 出版日期2010-12
• 单位中国医科大学