Radiogrammetric Analysis of the Proximal Portion of the Femur in Nigerian Population

Metric knowledge of the structural arrangement of the proximal os femora is an important tool in the design and development of implants of articulating bones of the coxal joint. The aim of this study was to provide baseline morphometric data of the upper extremity of the femur of Nigerian population. A total of 1,699 normal anteroposterior radiographs of the pelvis ofNigerians were used from Radiology Departments of selected hospitals in Nigeria. From the obtained radiographs, femoral neck axis length (FAL), femoral neck width (FW), femoral head width (HW), intertrochanteric width (TW), and femoral neck-femoral shaft angle (FNSA) were measured using goniometers and digital venier calipers. Results obtained showed that dissimilarities are present in the mean values ofthe measured parameters within and across populations. The mean±SEM value for FAL, FW, HW,TW, and FNSA are 108.30±0.47mm & 108.21±0.48mm, 37.75±0.22mm & 37.33±0.2lmm, 53.87±0.24mm & 53.74±0.22mm, 75.56±0.42mm & 75.72±0.43mm, 134.01±0.32° & 133.84±0.30° and 103.77±0.36mm & 103.78±0.41mm, 34.83±0.17mm & 35.09±0.17mm, 49.90±0.19mm & 49.84±0.20mm 71.65±0.32 & 71.11±0.32mm, and 132.38±0.31° & 131.96±0.26° for male left & right sides and female left & right sides respectively. Also, highly significant (p

Key Words: Proximal femoral morphometry, Orthopaedic implants and screws