Anatomy of the epicondyles of the distal femur - MRI analysis of normal knees

Knowledge of precise anatomic landmarks and relationships or the distal fer mur can be helpful in knee surgery, especially primary and revision total k nee arthroplasty. We analyzed 104 consecutive routine knee magnetic resonan ce imaging studies ro define useful landmarks anti relationships. The epico ndyles are described, and the relationship of the epicondyles to the joint line is defined in multiple planes. Some significant gender differences wer e noted. The distance from the epicondyles II, the joins line correlates wi th the transepicondylar width of the distal femur. This information can be helpful in determining appropriate joint line position intraoperatively. Th e posterior condylar angle averaged 3.1 1 degrees for all patients, and a t endency for the posterior condylar angle to increase with age was noted, bu t further study of this tendency is needed.