Background
The proximal tibia is a geometrically complex, asymmetrical, and variable structure, is heavily implicated in arthrokinematics of the knee joint, and thus impacts weight-bearing knee biomechanics. Such variability and asymmetry may be implicated in knee pathologies such as non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Medial, lateral, and coronal tibial slopes have been identified as anatomic parameters that may increase predisposition to knee injuries, but the extent to which each contributes has yet to be fully realized. Previously, two-dimensional methods have quantified tibial slopes, but more reliable 3D methods may prove advantageous.
Aims
The aims were: (1) to explore the reliability of two-dimensional methods, (2) to propose a novel three-dimensional measurement approach, and (3) to compare the data derived from traditional and novel methods.
Methods
Medial, lateral, and coronal tibial slope geometry from both knees (left and right) of one subject were obtained via magnetic resonance images and measured by four trained observers from two-dimensional views. The process was repeated via three-dimensional approaches and data were evaluated for intra- and inter- rater reliability.
Results
The conventional method presented a weaker Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) for the measured slopes (ranging from 0.43 to 0.81) while the resultant ICC for the proposed method indicated greater reliability (ranging from 0.84 to 0.97). Statistical analysis supported the novel three-dimensional approach for production of more reliable and repeatable results for each of the slopes calculated.
Conclusions
The novel three-dimensional method for calculating tibial plateau slope may be more reliable than previously established methods and may provide an important tool during assessment of knee injury risk, susceptibility to osteoarthritis, as part of anterior cruciate ligament injury risk assessment, and in design of total knee implants.