TIBIAL SLOPE

Abstract

Purpose: The measurement techniques of the tibial slope on the plain radiography were investigated, correlations and differences were compared. Introduction: Tibial slope has an importance on knee kinematics and must be taken into consideration in the operations such as knee prosthesis, cruciate ligament reconstruction and high tibial osteotomy. There are not any standard and generally accepted measurement techniques for tibial slope.
Patients and methods: Six different measurement techniques used by various authors were applied to 94 knees of 50 individuals and the normal value of these techniques, the difference and the correlations were evaluated. The relationship between tibial shaft anatomical axis (TSAA) value which is considered as the reference value and the other measurements practically suplied by lateral knee radiographies were compared.
Results: Each technique's measurements were statistically different (p< 0.01). However, the values obtained with these 6 methods were strongly correlated (R> 0.85). Especially the correlation with the values obtained with TSAA (reference value) was stronger for tibial proximal anatomical axis (TPAA) (R = 0.94).
Conclusions: Forecast of the contralateral tibial slope after one side measurement is found to be reliable. The values obtained with TPAA measurement which were not influenced by anatomical variables were close to reference values of tibial slope (TSAA) on lateral knee radiography.