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J Knee Surg 2018; 31(05): 433-438
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1604140
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Terminal Condylar Facets of the Femur: Implications for Knee Arthroplasty

Sunita Athavale
1   Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
,
Sheetal Kotgirwar
1   Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
,
Rashmi Deopujari
2   Department of Anatomy, People's College of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
,
Urmila Sinha
3   Department of Anatomy, Andaman & Nicobar Islands Institute of Medical Sciences, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar, India
,
Soumitra Trivedi
4   Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India
,
Rekha Lalwani
1   Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

28 July 2016

31 May 2017

Publication Date:
18 July 2017 (online)

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Abstract

In wake of changing lifestyle and increasing surgical expertise, knee replacement surgeries have become common. Attempts at improving the postoperative range of motion have prompted high-flexion knee arthroplasties. Consequently, there is a need to study the anatomy of knee joint in high flexion. This study focused on a holistic description of terminal condylar articular facet (TCAF; part of the femoral articular area in contact with the tibia in high flexion) of medial and lateral condyles and their quantification. In total, 104 dry femora and 16 dissected cadaveric knee joints (10 adult and 6 fetal) were studied. In most cases, the medial TCAF showed a tongue- or wedge-shaped extension in its lateral half, which has been referred to as extended condylar facet (ECF). The surface area of the ECF was approximately 0.5 cm2. In adult cadaveric dissections, the fibrous capsule showed the lax attachment beyond the ECF, thus creating a cave in the medial tibiofemoral compartment. These features were absent in fetal dissection. The presence of an ECF has not been documented in dry bones and has not been quantified. The variability of the size of this extension supports the hypothesis of this being an acquired trait. This study is expected to provide factual data for implant design improvement and a new anthropological data on Indian femora.

Keywords

condyles - high-flexion knee arthroplasty - posterior horn - total knee arthroplasty
 

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