Tibial tubercle position and patellar height as indicators of malalignmentin women with anterior knee pain

In this study, we evaluated 70 limbs in 42 women with anterior knee pain. W e investigated tibial tubercle position and patellar height indices as indi cators of malalignment. Tibial tubercle rotation angles were determined by computed tomography, and patellar height indicators, Insall-Salvati, modifi ed Insall-Salvati, Caton, and Blackburne indices were calculated on lateral knee roentgenograms. The results were compared to values obtained from 80 limbs in 40 healthy female volunteers. Tibial tubercle rotation angle was 6 8.1 degrees (+/-3.6) in the study group and 70.3 degrees (+/-3.8) in the co ntrol group. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). Patel lar height indicators were not statistically different between the two grou ps. These results suggested that patellar height is not a malalignment indi cator in female patients with anterior knee pain. These patients should be investigated by computed tomography to determine tibial tubercle position. Clin. Anat. 13.199-203, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.