The present study was done in department of anatomy in different sexes to evaluate the variations in the neck shaft angle of femur which helps to understand clinical relevance’s in biomechanics of the hip joint. Determination of the angle also has great value in treatment of different pathological conditions of hip and femur. The present study was done on 50 femoral bones of different ages and sex. Several parameters of femoral neck geometry were studied and analysed, among parameters studied 31 were men, and 19 women. The femur is the longest and strongest bone in the human body. Its length is associated with a striding gait, its strength with the weight and muscular forces. Proximally the femur consists of a head, neck, greater and lesser trochanters. Its shaft is almost cylindrical along most of its length and bowed forward, the proximal rounded articular head projecting medially from its short neck which articulates with acetabulum and form hip joint. The distal end of the femur is widely expanded as a bearing surface for transmission of weight to the tibia, it is wider and more substantial, and presents a double condyle that articulates with the tibia. Since the tibia and fibula descend vertically from the knees, the ankles are also in the line of body weight in standing or walking.

The following materials were collected for the present study.

1. 50 femoral bones from the Department of Anatomy

2. Osteometric Board from the Department of Forensic Medicine

3. Calipers, scale, sketch pen, lead pencil etc.

4. Goniometry

1. The femora were differentiated into male and female; the following measurements are taken and recorded.

• Vertical diameter of head.

• Bicondylar width

• Trochanteric oblique length

• Oblique length of femur.

2. The neck-shaft angles of 50 femora were measured and recorded.

The neck-shaft angle of femur was measured by marking axis of shaft and axis of neck. The axis of the neck was drawn by taking two points, one at the centre of the head and other at the end of the midpoint of the narrowest part of the neck (highest constriction at the neck), the two points were joined, and thus the line drawn represents the axis of the neck. Then the axis of shaft was marked by taking two mid points, one at the upper end of shaft, and the other at the lower end of the shaft, the two points were joined and the same line was extended at the upper end as such, to cut the axis of the neck. The angle was then measured, using a goniometer and the angle was noted down.

According to study of the neck-shaft angle, the following conclusions were made:

1. The neck-shaft angle of femur is measured in 50 normal femora, 31 were classified as male and 19 as female.

2. The average angle is found in male 127.48° and in females 127.52°. The difference between the angles of both the sexes is 0.2° and it is negligible. There is not much difference in the angle of male and female, being slightly more in the females.

3. The present study may be useful in the department of orthopaedics to diagnose various pathologies of hip and femur, and also helpful in forensic anthropology for determining racial variations.

With Regards,
Joseph Kent
Journal Manager
Journal of Trauma & Orthopaedic Nursing