Landmarks for rotating the thigh-bone component correctly in Indian knees
Distal femoral rotational axes in Indian knees
In simple words
Knee replacements are lined up using fixed landmarks at the lower end of the thigh bone. This study measured those landmarks in healthy Indian knees and found they are not identical to Western or Japanese knees.
What the study looked at
CT scans of 100 healthy knees from 50 Indian adults aged 26 to 40, measuring the main rotational reference lines of the lower thigh bone (the posterior condylar axis, the transepicondylar axis and Whiteside's line) and the angles between them.
What it found
On average the posterior condylar angle was 5°, and overall leg alignment was 179.6°. Only two of the measured angles differed between left and right knees, and two of the commonly used reference lines agreed with each other only weakly.
Why it matters for patients
Surgeons use these lines to position a knee implant. Knowing the typical values in Indian knees helps them set rotation accurately, rather than relying only on figures measured in other populations.
Authors: Mullaji AB, Sharma AK, Marawar SV, Kohli AF, Singh DP · J Orthop Surg (Hong Kong) 2009;17(2):166–169