COLLAGEN ORGANIZATION IN THE CRURAL INTEROSSEOUS MEMBRANE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO FIBULAR OSTEOTOMY

The organization of collagen fibres in the crural interosseous membran e was measured using X-ray diffraction. The fibres were found to be hi ghly aligned and steeply angled in a distal direction from tibia to fi bula with a mean angle of 13-degrees. This organization will lead to a very stiff, ligament-like structure which will transmit forces to the tibia generated by the muscles attached to the fibula. It also sugges ts an optimum site for a fibular osteotomy about 4 cm distal to the ti bial fracture site.