KNEE CAP: A MORPHOMETRIC STUDY IN DRY HUMAN PATELLA

Abstract

Introduction: Patella is the largest sesamoid bone. Knowledge of dimensions and of classification of patellae is very important anthropologically as well as clinically for total knee arthroplasty and harvesting techniques of patellar ligament grafts. Since there are very few studies on patella, present study aimed to do morphometry of patella. Material & Methods: Morphometric measurements were done on 60 dry patellae of both sexes, using digital sliding Vernier caliper. All statistical analysis was done with help of standard SPSS software. Student t-test was used to ascertain whether significant difference exist between right and left patella. Patella was also classified into one of three categories according to Koyuncu’s classification-Type A (WMAF=WLAF), Type B (WMAF <WLAF) and Type C (WMAF>WLAF). Results: Out of 60 patellae, 34 patellae were of right side and 26 were of left side. Mean patellar height was 39.53+ 5.58; mean width of patella 41.27+3.67 and mean patellar thickness was 19.84+1.76. Width of medial articular facet was 17.50+1.88 and width of lateral articular facet was 20.82+2.72. There was no significant difference in measurements of right and left patella except width for lateral articular facet where p value was <0.01. In present study, according to Koyuncu’s classification 86.66% patella were of class B type, 13.34% patella were of class C type while class A type patella was not found. The secondary ridge was found to be conspicuous in 23.3% patellae. Conclusion: Present study on morphometry of the patella is obviously very important and concluded parameters can be variably used in anthropology and anthropometrics, comparative anatomy and evolutionary biology, patellofemoral unit prosthesis synthesis, patellar implants, arthroplasty and forensic sciences.