Arvind Kumar1, Jigyasa Passey2, Mukesh Kumar1, Dushyant Chouhan3, Manish Saini4, Saubhik Das5. 1. Department of Orthopaedics Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, New Delhi, 110062, India. 2. Department of Anatomy, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India. 3. Department of Orthopedics, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, India. 4. Shalby Hospital, Surat, Gujarat, India. 5. Orthopaedics Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Bariatu, Ranchi, 834009, India.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Accurate limb length restoration forms an important aspect of reconstructive surgeries around the hip joint. Among the various intraoperative methods for accurate limb length restoration, the relation between the greater trochanter and the center of the femoral head has been conventionally used owing to its simplicity and replicability. The current study aims to study the normal relation between the greater trochanter and the center of rotation of the femoral head, its population-based variation and its gender-based and contralateral differences in the Indian population. METHODS: Standard anteroposterior radiographs of normal hip joints with the proximal femur, performed over a one year period were studied. A software-based analysis was conducted to measure the difference between the levels of the greater trochanteric tip and the center of the femoral head along the longitudinal axis of the femur. The measurements among the male and female cases and the contralateral sides were compared. RESULTS: The greater trochanteric tip lies at a higher level than the center of rotation of the femoral head by a mean difference of 9.20 ± 5.30 mm. No significant differences were observed among male and female groups and between the contralateral hip joints. Intraobserver and Interobserver reliability were high. CONCLUSIONS: The tip of the greater trochanter and the center of the femoral head do not lie at the same level. This differential relation should be considered during the reconstructive surgeries around the hip joint to prevent an inadvertent limb length discrepancy. Considering the wide interindividual variations, this difference cannot be generalized for all the patients and restoring it to the contralateral normal hip would be more appropriate.
PURPOSE: Accurate limb length restoration forms an important aspect of reconstructive surgeries around the hip joint. Among the various intraoperative methods for accurate limb length restoration, the relation between the greater trochanter and the center of the femoral head has been conventionally used owing to its simplicity and replicability. The current study aims to study the normal relation between the greater trochanter and the center of rotation of the femoral head, its population-based variation and its gender-based and contralateral differences in the Indian population. METHODS: Standard anteroposterior radiographs of normal hip joints with the proximal femur, performed over a one year period were studied. A software-based analysis was conducted to measure the difference between the levels of the greater trochanteric tip and the center of the femoral head along the longitudinal axis of the femur. The measurements among the male and female cases and the contralateral sides were compared. RESULTS: The greater trochanteric tip lies at a higher level than the center of rotation of the femoral head by a mean difference of 9.20 ± 5.30 mm. No significant differences were observed among male and female groups and between the contralateral hip joints. Intraobserver and Interobserver reliability were high. CONCLUSIONS: The tip of the greater trochanter and the center of the femoral head do not lie at the same level. This differential relation should be considered during the reconstructive surgeries around the hip joint to prevent an inadvertent limb length discrepancy. Considering the wide interindividual variations, this difference cannot be generalized for all the patients and restoring it to the contralateral normal hip would be more appropriate.