Femur head angles

Question 1

What does the femur head angle typically do throughout life?

Answer 1

naturally changes through the lifespan of an individual

Question 2

What is the normal angle for adults?

Answer 2

between 120-135

Question 3

What is the typical angle for children?

Answer 3

upper range of 120-135

Question 4

What is the typical range for the elderly?

Answer 4

lower range of 120-135

Question 5

What is coxa vara?

Answer 5

less than 120 degrees

closer to the richt angle of the head/neck and shaft

Question 6

What is coxa valga?

Answer 6

angle (>135°) is coxa valga (head and neck are closer to being in line with shaft)

Question 7

What is produced if an abnormal femur angle is produce unilaterally?

Answer 7

positive trendelenburg sign

may be asymptomatic if bilateral

Question 8

What is the valgus angle?

Answer 8

The angle of the femur from vertical

Question 9

What happens because the femur is not vertical or in straight line with the tibia?

Answer 9

brings the feet closer to the midline, under the center of gravity, and reduces the load on the small glutes in counteracting pelvic tilt

Question 10

What is a typical valgus angle from the long axis of the femur to vertical ?

Answer 10

170-175

Question 11

in who is the valgus angle typically larger than 170-175 degrees?

Answer 11

often greater in women because of the more widely-spaced acetabula

Question 12

What is genu varum?

Answer 12

small valgus angle

bow legs

Question 13

What is genu valgum?

Answer 13

large valgus angle

knock knees

Question 14

How is the valgus angle measured from the long axis of the femur to the medial?

Answer 14

typically 5-10 degrees.

Question 15

What is the Q angle?

Answer 15

an alternative way to measure genu varum/valgum

Question 16

How is the Q angle measured?

Answer 16

an imaginary line from the ASIS to the center of the superior border of patella, to the center of tibial tuberosity Q angle is assessed by deviation from a straight line

Question 17

What is a large Q angle an indication of?

Answer 17

patellar dislocation

Question 18

What is a normal Q angle?

Answer 18

Q<7 degrees

Question 19

What is a mild pathology of the Q angle?

Answer 19

Q> 12 degrees

Question 20

How do you treat a mild pathology of a Q angle? Q>12

Answer 20

lateral release of patellar retinaculum

Question 21

What is a severe pathology of a Q angle?

Answer 21

Q > 20degrees

Question 22

What is th entreatment of a severe pathology of a severe Q angle? Q >20

Answer 22

reorientation of the tibial tuberosity

Question 23

What is important about he angle of the femur?

Answer 23

that it exists; that 5-10 degrees of femoral tilt—from vertical, and from the tibia—is normal

 - sexual dimorphism; femoral tilt tends to be greater in women (why?)
 - developmental changes; toddlers tend to be bowlegged
 - deviations exist on either side
      1. greater femoral tilt = genu valgum, “knock-knees”
      2. smaller tilt, or laterally deflected = genum varum, “bowlegs”
 - consequences of deviations: inefficient locomotion, risk of patellar subluxation

Question 24

What are the distal transverse fibers of the vastus medualis sometimes referred to as?

Answer 24

vastus medialis obliquus (VMO

Question 25

What does is the function of the VMO?

Answer 25

By pulling medially on quadriceps tendon, the VMO reorients force vector and helps prevent lateral patellar subluxation.

Question 26

What else is the VMO active in besides helping prevent lateral patella sublimation?

Answer 26

active in last 10-15 degrees of knee extension, and helps complete knee extension.