Evaluation of femoral parameters in a Nigerian population sample

Abstract

Background & Aims: Femoral parameters exhibit geographic variability; hence, population-specific analyses are important. This study aimed to estimate standard femur parameters for the Nigerian population. Materials & Methods: Fifty-three dried human femurs (26 right femurs, 27 left femurs) were obtained from the skeletal archive of the Department of Anatomy, University of Ibadan. Each parameter was measured with a digital sliding Vernier caliper and the femoral angles were measured with a goniometer. Descriptive analysis was conducted, a paired Student’s t-test was used to compare the right and left values, and Pearson correlation was used to test the relationship between the variables. Analysis was done with GraphPad Prism 8, and statistical significance was considered at p ≤ 0.05. Results: The right femur parameters have overall higher mean values except in maximal length of the femur (MLF), sub-capital diameter from the anterior-posterior diameter of the femur (SCii), and angle of declination (AOD). MLF, SCii, AOD, latero-medial diameter of the femoral head (LMDF), sub-capital diameter from the superior-inferior diameter of the femur (SCi), mid-cervical diameter from the anterior-posterior diameter of the femur (MCii), and depth of medial condyle (DMC) were statistically significant. A strong positive correlation exists between the MLF, LSAA, SCii, and ICL on the left. Conclusion: Understanding the variation pattern of these parameters may aid in improving treatment outcomes in the use of implants, limb lengthening procedures and femoral fracture management in the Nigerian population.

Keywords

• bilateral parameter comparison
• femur
• nigerian population