The bicondylar angle of adult Malawians
Igbigbi, P.S.; Sharrif, M.
American Journal of Orthopedics 34(6): 291-294
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 1078-4519 PMID: 16060557 Document Number: 591766
We measured the bicondylar angle on 260 unilateral anteroposterior radiographs of the knee of adult Malawians, 134 men and 126 women, aged 18 to 54 years. The angle ranged between 1.50 degrees and 12.00 degrees in both genders, with a mean of 6.13 degrees +/- 1.88 degrees SD in men and 7.75 degrees +/- 1.62 degrees SD in women, respectively. The angle exhibited sexual dimorphism, and comparison with previous studies demonstrated regional and racial variations. The importance of the angle in human bipedalism to ascertain the hominid character of human remains and in the reconstruction of the total length of the femur is stressed, and hence its mean value is essential for practicing orthopedic surgeons.