International Journal of Medicine and Health Development (Jan 2021)

Regressional analysis of the patella parameters of male cadaveric knees found among South East Nigerians: A useful guide to patella replacement during total knee replacement

  • Amechi Uchenna Katchy,
  • Augustine Uchenna Agu,
  • Ikenna Theophilus Ikele,
  • Chioma Nneka Ikele,
  • Augustus Uchenna Ugwu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/ijmh.IJMH_27_20
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 26, no. 2
pp. 84 – 90

Abstract

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Background: Total knee replacement (TKR) is a viable option for the management of osteoarthritis, and it has proven to be both effective and successful. Optimization of the patellofemoral joint kinematics is important for surgeons who choose to resurface the patella during TKR. The whole idea is to get the final patellar bone-prosthesis composite thickness to match the original patellar thickness before the surgery. Aim: To correlate patella height (PH) and patella width (PW) with patella thickness (PT) as well as build a regression model through which the dimensions can predict the thickness among the native knees of the South East Nigerians. Materials and Methods: This is a correlational, nonexperimental, and observational study conducted on 60 knees from 30 male cadavers taken from the anatomy laboratory of the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus. The PH, PW, and PT were measured by using specific endpoints and the observed data were subjected to statistical correlation analysis. Results: PH and PT were strongly positively correlated, r(59) = 0.797, P < 0.001. Results of the multiple linear regression indicated that there was a collective significant effect between the PH, PW, and PT (F(2, 57) = 51.486, P < 0.001, R2 = 0.644). The individual predictors were examined further and indicated that PH (t = 4.931, P < 0.001) was a significant predictor whereas PW (t = 1.153, P = 0.254) was not a significant predictor in the model. The patella’s predicted thickness is equal to 1.734+0.328 (PH in cm) +0. PT increased 0.328 cm for each centimeter of height. The PH was the only significant predictor of PT. Conclusion: This study was able to establish a correlation between the PH, PW, and PT, and it was able to demonstrate PH and PW as predictors of PT among the population of South East Nigeria.

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