Gender differences in the morphology of the trochlea and the distal femur

Abstract

We have found that although the female distal femur is relatively narrower (larger AP/ML aspect ratio) than the male in three of the four measured levels, there is no significant difference between genders at the level of the anterior edge of the anterior chamfer. It is at this level that it has been suggested that impingement between soft tissues and an overhanging prosthesis is most likely to be painful. Equally, there were no gender-related differences in the shape of the trochlea. These data therefore do not support the provision of narrow femoral components for TKA for women.