Does increased femoral antetorsion predispose to cartilage lesions of the patellofemoral joint?

Abstract

ResultsNo significant correlation could be found between the femoral antetorsion and cartilage degeneration of the lateral patellofemoral joint (n.s.), the height of the lateral trochlea (n.s.) and the sulcus angle (n.s.). Conclusion This study could not document that the femoral neck antetorsion and subsequent internal rotation of the distal femur correlated with the degree of degeneration of the lateral facet of the patellofemoral joint. Clinically, femoral internal rotation may play a minor role in the development of lateral patellofemoral joint degeneration.

Increased femoral antetorsion correlates with higher degrees of lateral retropatellar cartilage degeneration, further accentuated in genu valgum

“…However, at thirty degrees rotational deformity, contact pressure increased significantly [23]. To investigate whether there was a relationship between femAT and the presence and pattern of OA of the PF joint, Oppermann et al used seventy‐eight human cadaveric lower extremities [30]. The location and degree of PF cartilage degeneration was recorded with a digital processor.…”

“…In this study population, there was no significant correlation between femAT and cartilage damage of the lateral facet of the PF joint. However, femAT averaged 13.3 ± 7.4°, with only 15 subjects having a femAT over 15° [30]. Eighty‐four patients with radiographically diagnosed OA of the knee were classified into three subsets of PF OA, medial femorotibial OA and lateral femorotibial OA in the study of Takai et al [42].…”

“…Even more, knee pain risk and severity were reported to be more dramatic with cartilage loss isolated to or inclusive of the lateral PF compartment [39]. Up to this date, however, no study was able to prove the hypothesis that increased femAT might cause degeneration in the PF joint [30]. No study exists which simultaneously investigated torsional malalignment of the lower extremity and cartilage degeneration of the PF joint with contemporary state of the art imaging modalities.…”