Influence of gender and age on distal femur shape. Are there any relevant differences?

Abstract

Objective: Evaluate the possible sex differences in the shapeof the distal femur and the age group influence on morphometry.Methods: Five measurements on 124 knees wereevaluated using magnetic resonance imaging, 62 male and62 female. The age ranged between 40 and 80 years, and thepatients were divided into two age groups. Three factors wereanalyzed, allowing the bone classification regarding its width,shape, and symmetry. Results: The male group showed absolutemeasurements greater than the female, but there wereno sex differences in the shape of the knee. Younger patientshad more trapezoidal knees and a higher rate of asymmetrybetween condyles. After analyzing the factors, regardingtheir width, 31 knees were considered standard, 47 narrow,and 46 wide. As for the shape of the knee, 12 were consideredstandard, 58 rectangular, and 54 trapezoidal. About the condylessymmetry, 23 were classified as symmetrical and 101asymmetrical. There was a great interpersonal variation in theshape of the knee, regardless of the sex. Conclusion: The shapeof the distal femur presents great interpersonal variation,going beyond the simple division between wide or narrow.This variation is influenced by the patients’ age, but not thesex. Level of evidence: 4