Background: Femoral bicondylar angle is the angle between the diaphysis of the femur and a line perpendicular to the infracondylar plane. It is indispensable in bipedal locomotion as it serves to place the knee and foot under the body’s center of gravity during the single support phase of gait. Although the mechanism for the formation of the angle is poorly understood it is believed to be an effect of the stresses in the physis of the distal femur resulting from bipedal loading conditions. This angle is believed to vary in individuals, gender and races. At birth, the femoral bicondylar angle is 0 0 but reaches a maximum of 14 0 in adults. Objectives: To document data for the femoral bicondylar angle of Nigerians in Rivers State and to establish if there exists any sexual dimorphism or racial variation in the femoral bicondylar angle amongst Nigerians in Rivers State. Materials and Methods: A total of 250 radiographs of the knee joints were collected and reviewed from November 2010 to August 2011. Results: The gender difference observed was statistically significant  (F=11.720, p=0.001). The mean bicondylar angle of the right femur for males was 8.35± 0.242 0 while that of the right femur for females was observed to be 8.16 ± 0.8187 0 . Results also revealed that the mean for left femoral bicondylar angle in males was 8.66 ± 0.231 0 while that of females was 8.91 ± 0.185 0 . These findings reveal that there exists sexual dimorphism in the femoral bicondylar angle amongst Nigerians in Rivers State. In addition, observation also showed that there existed racial variation when compared to other races in the world.

Radiological assessment of the femoral bicondylar angle in a Nigerian population

Introduction: The femoral bicondylar angle of femur is an angle between the axis of shaft of the femur and a line perpendicular to the infracondylar plane. The bicondylar angle was studied from earliest known bipedal human ancestors: australopithecines from about 4.2 million years ago. The bicondylar angle of the femur of australopithecines is often used as a marker of bipedality and is therefore an indicator of human lineage. Objectives: The main objective was to study the femoral bicondylar angle by osteological and radiological method as to show their relation between different measured parameters as well as the angle under respective method. Methods: A total sample of 200 (100 dried femurs-for osteological method and 100 radiological films-for radiological method) from Medical colleges of Nepal were included in this study. Femoral bicondylar angle was measured by using osteometric board, goniometer, vernier caliper and accessories. Collected data were analyzed statistically and presented in the form of tables and graph. The mean of femoral bicondylar angle was calculated and correlated with other parameters using the Pearson’s correlation. Result: The mean value of femoral bicondylar angle obtained were 9.31⁰±2.13 and 9.37⁰±2.25 for right and left femurs respectively by the osteological method. The mean value calculated from radiological method were 8.96⁰±2.24 for right and 9.40⁰±2.44 for left in males whereas in females 8.70⁰±2.48 for right and 9.31⁰±2.58 for left. Apart from the average value and standard deviation, the mean angle correlation with height and side, showed statistically insignificant (P>0.005). Conclusion: The finding of the study showed the femoral bicondylar angle was greater in left femur than right in osteological method whereas it was greater in both right and left femur of male when compared to female as per radiological method. Overall, the bicondylar angle was found to be greater in left femur than right. Thus, obtained observation of the bicondylar angle could be useful in forensic discipline to ascertain the age and sex of the dried femur in controversial situation.

Osteological and Radiological Study of Femoral Bicondylar Angle among Nepalese Population

In the erect posture, femur is not absolute vertical, being separated above from its fellow by a considerable interval, which corresponds to the breadth of the pelvis, and inclines gradually medially and downward, so as to approach its fellow, for the purpose of bringing the knee joints near the line of gravity of the body. In the present study obliquity of femoral shaft measured in 127 dry femora. Mean obliquity of femoral shaft for 62 left sided femora found 8.431 degrees with standard deviation of 2.361 degrees whereas for 65 right sided femora were found to be 7.708 degrees with standard deviation of 2.425 degrees. When total 127 femora considered, mean bicondylar angle of 8.061 +/- 2.412 degrees was obtained. Though statistically insignificant, mean bicondylar angle determined on left side was higher than that on the right side.

A study of obliquity of femoral shaft in Eastern Indian population.

Femoral bicondylar angle is the angle between an axis through the shaft of the femur and a lineperpendicular to the infracondylar plane. This study aims to assess femoral bicondylar angle measuredfrom radiograph of femur and knee joints obtained from teaching hospitals in Kathmandu Nepal. Totalof two hundred AP view radiograph of knee joint were collected, out of which, 50 each were of male rightand left knee joint and 50 each were of female right and left knee joint. The mean angle for the right malefemur was 7.86° with the range of 5°-10° and mean angle for the right female femur was 8.82° with therange of 6°-11°. On the left side, bicondylar angle ranged in male from 6° -10° with the average of 7.46°andin female range was 6°-11° and average was 8.66°. The bicondylar angle was higher in female on both theside, the difference was statistically significant on the left side (P=0.004) and significant on the right side(P=0.001). The finding of the study showed the femoral bicondylar angles were greater in right femurthan left femur in both sexes. The difference in the bicondylar angle between the right and left femurwas statistically insignificant in both sexes. (male p=0.144, female p=0.541). The result from this study hasshown that femoral bicondylar angles were generally greater amongst the females as compared to themales; greater in right femur than left femur in both sexes.
Keywords : Femoral bicondylar angle, femoraldiaphysis, infracondylar plane andmeasurement of radiograph

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Radiological assessment of femoral bicondylar angle among persons attending a tertiary health care

The human heart valve is an integral structure and the valvular heart disease is one of the most common disease of the heart. Such cardiac disease require repair of the valve and valve replacement surgery where the patient’s diseased valve is replaced by a prosthetic valve. The aim of this study was to measure the annular circumferences and diameters of tricuspid and mitral valves in cadavers. A morphometric study was conducted in Department of Anatomy at Nepal Medical College and Teaching Hospital where total 50 cadaveric hearts were taken up for the study. The tricuspid and the mitral valves were exposed by dissection method. Measurements were taken by using a thread and a digital vernier caliper and obtained data were analysed by using SPSS-16. The mean, frequency and standard deviation of circumferences and diameters of both tricuspid and the mitral valves were analysed and were found as (a) The mean annular circumference of tricuspid valve was 11.22 ± 0.20 cm (b) The mean diameter of tricuspid valve was 2.33 ± 0.04 cm. (c) The mean annular circumference of mitral valve was 9.22 ± 1.49 cm (d) the mean diameter of mitral valve was 2.01 ± 0.27 cm. There were few literatures available on the study of cadaveric heart valves in Nepal thus this study will provide a guideline to the clinicians, radiologists and also to cardiothoracic surgeons performing various valve surgeries to assess the prosthetic valve of appropriate size and to the anthropologists also to maintain a standardized data on cardiac valves as well.

S.K. Ghosh

Papers

Radiological assessment of femoral bicondylar angle among persons attending a tertiary health care

Measurement of the Tricuspid and the Mitral Valve in Adult Human Heart: A Cadaveric Study