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Researchers report gender-based differences in osteopathic knee geometry
Values measured for various knee regions were significantly larger in men
compared to their height-matched women counterparts.
By Robert Trace
September 2007
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SEOUL-Men generally have larger knee features than their women counterparts,
even when the women are the same height as the men, according to research
presented here at the 15th Triennial Congress of the Asia Pacific Orthopaedic
Association.
At Teikyo University School of Medicine in Tokyo, Shinro Takai, MD, and
colleagues randomly selected and radiologically analyzed 562 osteoarthritic
knees rated as stage 1 or greater according to Kellgren's osteoarthritic knee
classification system. The researchers also calculated the ratio between the
values measured for various knee regions to clarify differences in morphology
between the sexes.
In women, the value obtained by dividing the length of the medial femoral
condyle in the anterior-posterior direction was 0.87±0.03. The value obtained by
dividing the depth of the medial femoral condyle in the proximal-distal
direction by the width of femur at the articular level was 0.56±0.03.
For comparison, in men, the value obtained by dividing the length of the medial
femoral condyle in the anterior-posterior direction was 0.81±0.04 and the value
obtained by dividing the depth of the medial femoral condyle in the
proximal-distal direction by the width of femur at the articular level was
0.52±0.03.
Likewise, the value obtained by dividing the length of the medial tibia condyle
in the anterior-posterior direction by the width of the tibia at the articular
level was 0.61±0.05 in women vs. 0.59±0.04 in men, Takai said.
Ultimately, the values measured for various regions were significantly larger in
men than in women, even among height-matched men and women. "Morphologically,
the knees of [men] tended to have a larger width than that of [women]," he said.
This finding could underscore the importance of some gender-specific knee
implants, Takai said. However, "More research is needed to further verify these
differences."
For more information:
Takai S. Gender differences in the geometry of the osteopathic knee joint.
ICL001-4.. Presented at the 15th Triennial Congress of the Asia Pacific
Orthopaedic Association. Sept. 9-13, 2007. Seoul.
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