CT-based 3D femoral models were reconstructed for 122 paired femurs in 61 young healthy subjects (46.9 ± 6.8 years) with no history of hip pathology. Side-to-side differences of several femoral morphologic parameters, including femoral head diameter, femoral anteversion, horizontal offset and femoral head center location, were compared and correlated with demographic factors using multiple linear regression.
Significant side-to-side differences (P < 0.01) were found in femoral anteversion (4.3 ± 3.8°; range: 0.2° to 17.3°), horizontal offset (2.5 ± 2.1 mm; range: 0.1 to 10.3 mm), and femoral head center location (7.1 ± 3.8 mm; range: 0.5 to 19.4 mm). The difference in femoral anteversion was strongly correlated with the difference in neck diameter (R2 = 0.79), whereas the difference in horizontal femoral offset was highly correlated with the head diameter difference (R2 = 0.72). Femoral head center difference was correlated with the femoral anteversion, horizontal offset and neck-shaft-angle difference (R2 = 0.82).
Relying on the anatomic landmarks of the contralateral femur during hip arthroplasty may not necessarily result in restoration of native anatomy and leg-length. Knowledge of the baseline side-to-side asymmetry could provide a range of error that would be tolerable following hip reconstruction.
Level IV.
Retrospective observational study.