Sibel Atesoglu Karabas & Turan Koç

The aim of this study was to investigate the morphometric characteristics of the distal femur and to analyze the relationships between basic anatomical parameters that will contribute to anthropological, forensic, and orthopedic applications. Sixty intact adult femurs (31 right, 29 left) of unknown age, sex, and ethnicity were examined. Bicondylar width (BICw), anteroposterior and transverse distances of the medial (MCap, MCtr), and lateral condyles (LCap, LCtr), and intercondylar line width (ICw) were recorded using digital calipers and goniometers. Descriptive statistics, side comparisons, and Pearson correlation analyses were performed with a significance level of p<0.05. High interobserver agreement was found for all parameters (p<0.001), confirming the reliability of the measurements. No significant differences were observed between right and left femurs (p>0.05). The strongest correlation was between MCap and LCap (r = 0.754, p < 0.01), followed by BICw, which included both MCap (r = 0.617) and LCap (r = 0.616). Moderate to weak correlations were found among the other parameters. Morphometric analysis of the distal femur revealed strong correlations between certain anatomical measurements, particularly condylar dimensions. These findings may aid in sex prediction, prosthesis design, and understanding joint mechanics across populations.

KEY WORDS: Distal femur; Lateral condyle; Medial condyle; Prosthesis.

KARABAS, S. A. & KOÇ, T. A morphometric study of the distal femur: Correlations and clinical relevance. Int. J. Morphol., 43(6):2042- 2047, 2025.