RESEARCH & ARTICLES

Evaluation of the Femoral Condyle Radius of Curvature at the Chondral Surface Shows Significant Correlation With the Anterior-Posterior Length

Purpose: To assess whether standard femorotibial measurements can reliably predict the femoral condyle's cartilage surface radius of curvature, aiming to simplify donor-recipient matching in osteochondral allograft transplantation. 

Summary:

  • The goal of this study was to understand the relationship between the radius of curvature (anterior-posterior plane) and femorotibial dimensions used in the OCA matching process, and to determine whether linear measurements correlate with the radius of curvature (ROC). 
  • Femoral condyle anterior-posterior length (APL), femoral condyle width (lateral-medial length, LML), femoral hemicondyle width (HCW), and tibial plateau width (TPW) were considered 
  • All measurements correlated with Cartilage ROC in medial and Femoral Condyles. The APL (condyle length) correlated most closely with the condyle ROC. 


JRF Takeaways: Condyle length remains one of the most reliable indicators of the anterior-posterior radius of curvature. JRF considers condyle length in the OCA matching process. When available, providing information about the type of surgical technique to be performed (e.g., BioUni) allows for more accurate matching of OCAs. 

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Authors: Saeed Jerban, Suzanne M. Tabbaa, Paul E. Caldwell, III, Kristofer J. Jones, William Bugbee, Dennis C. Crawford, Eric Y. Chang

Published: Cartilage