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  • Shape of the intercondylar notch of the human femur: a comparison of osteoarthritic and non-osteoarthritic bones from a skeletal sample

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Shape of the intercondylar notch of the human femur: a comparison of osteoarthritic and non-osteoarthritic bones from a skeletal sample
  1. L Shepstonea,
  2. J Rogersb,
  3. J R Kirwanb,
  4. B W Silvermanc
  1. aSchool of Health Policy and Practice, University of East Anglia, UK, bRheumatology Unit, University of Bristol Division of Medicine, UK, cDepartment of Mathematics, University of Bristol, UK
  1. Dr L Shepstone, School of Health Policy and Practice, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UKL.Shepstone{at}uea.ac.uk

Abstract

OBJECTIVES To compare objectively the shape of the intercondylar notch in human osteoarthritic and non-osteoarthritic femora.

METHODS A sample of 96 human femora from a large skeletal population were selected for study. These femora included subjects with evidence of late stage osteoarthritis (that is, with eburnation present) and subjects with no such evidence. The distal end of the femur, viewed axially, was recorded with a video camera, and digitised computer images were produced. The outline of the intercondylar notch was extracted and represented mathematically as two functions. A functional principal components analysis was used to identify important modes of shape variation. These variations in shape were compared between eburnated and non-eburnated femora.

RESULTS A statistically significant difference in the shape of the intercondylar notch was found between the two groups. The difference related mostly to the shape of the edge of the medial condyle: in the non-osteoarthritic group this tended to exhibit a concavity; in the osteoarthritic group it tended to be straight.

CONCLUSIONS This observed difference may be a predisposing factor to the development of osteoarthritis. The morphology of the intercondylar notch is related to the functioning of and possible damage to the cruciate ligaments, and damage to the cruciate ligaments is a known risk factor for osteoarthritis. Alternatively, this difference may be due to bony remodelling secondary to the onset of osteoarthritis, perhaps in response to altered biomechanics.

  • intercondylar notch
  • osteoarthritis
  • knee
  • anterior cruciate ligament

https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.60.10.968

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