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Joint Diseases and
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Original Article · Open access

A new and simple method for patellar height measurement: Fibula-condyle-patella angle

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Fatih Günaydin

Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Mersin City Training and Research Hospital, Mersin, Türkiye

ORCID: 0000-0003-1770-0276

Öner Kilinç

Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Mersin City Training and Research Hospital, Mersin, Türkiye

ORCID: 0000-0001-5119-3701

Mahmud Aydin

Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye

ORCID: 0000-0002-2235-1480

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the inter-observer reliability of fibula-condyle-patella angle measurements and to compare it with other measurement techniques.

Patients and methods: Between January 01, 2023 and January 31, 2023, a total of 108 patients (20 males, 88 females; mean age: 47.5±12.0 years; range, 18 to 72 years) who underwent X-rays using the fibula-condyle-patella angle, Insall-Salvati, Caton-Deschamps, Blackburne-Pell, and plateau-patella angle (PPA) methods were retrospectively analyzed. Knee lateral radiographs taken in at least 30 degrees of flexion and appropriate rotation were scanned. All measurements were made by two orthopedic surgeons who were blinded to measurement methods.

Results: Right knee patellar height measurements were conducted in 56 patients, while left knee patellar heights were assessed in 52 patients. The highest inter-observer concordance was found in the fibula-condyle-patella angle. The second highest concordance was found in the Insall-Salvati. The highest concordance correlation was found with PPA in the measurements of both researchers.

Conclusion: The fibula-condyle-patella angle is a reliable technique with a good inter-observer reliability for measuring patellar height. We believe that this study will inspire future research to establish comprehensive reference values for clinical applications.

Declarations

Ethics Committee Approval

The study protocol was approved by the Mersin University Rectorate Clinical Research Ethics Committee (date: 02.05.2023, no: 296/2023). The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Informed Consent

A written informed consent was obtained from each patient.

Author Contributions

Idea/concept: F.G., Ö.K.; Design: F.G., Ö.K.; Data collection/processing: F.G., Ö.K.; Analysis/ interpretation: F.G., M.A.; Literature review: F.G., M.A., Drafting/writing: F.G., Ö.K., M.A.; Critical review: F.G., M.A.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Financial Disclosure

The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.

Data Sharing Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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