An Anatomical Comparative Study of Lower Limb Discrepancy and Scoliosis

Abstract

Lower limb (LL) discrepancy (LLD) and Scoliosis (S) are two conditions found within the general population that afflict a variety of polytypic individuals. This study compares tibial, femoral, and total LL length among scoliotic (S) and non‐scoliotic (NS) donor bodies (n=22) representing an urban population. Seven of the individuals exhibited various degrees of scoliosis. Femoral length was measured from the lateral condyle to the greater trochanter. Tibial length was measured from the medial malleolus to the medial condyle. Individual components of the left and right LL were compared within and between the S and NS groups. T‐tests revealed no significant LLD difference (p < 0.05) between S and NS groups or within a pooled sample. Despite a lack of significant differences found between S and NS groups in each of their individual bony components of the LL, no individual in the pooled sample was identically symmetrical in femoral or total LL length. Only one individual presented with a left and right tibia of equal length measuring 36.6 centimeters. These results suggest that the presence of LLD transcends scoliotic condition and may be the anatomical norm for humans. The biomechanical response to LLD on gait and posture remains unresolved and requires further investigation.Grant Funding Source: AAA