A New Radiographic Measurement Method for Evaluation of Tibial Torsion: A Pilot Study in Adults

• Published in: Clinical orthopaedics and related research Vol. 467; no. 7; pp. 1807 - 1812
• Main Authors: Güven, Melih, Akman, Budak, Ünay, Koray, Özturan, Engin Kutay, Çakıcı, Hüsamettin, Eren, Abdullah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer-Verlag 01.07.2009; Springer; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Ovid Technologies
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Conservative Orthopedics; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Observer Variation; Original; Original Article; Orthopedics; Outpatients; Pilot Projects; Radiography - methods; Radiography - standards; Radiography - statistics & numerical data; Reproducibility of Results; Sports Medicine; Surgery; Surgical Orthopedics; Tibia - diagnostic imaging; Torsion Abnormality - diagnostic imaging; Young Adult; Radiographic Method; Radiographic Measurement; Lateral Malleolus; Lateral Radiograph; Compute Tomography Measurement; Human; Radiography; Radiodiagnosis; Tibia; Orthopedics; Exploration; Adult; Measurement method; Torsion
• ISSN: 0009-921X; 1528-1132
• DOI: 10.1007/s11999-008-0655-z

Computed tomography (CT) frequently is used to determine torsional abnormalities. However, its use in clinical practice may be limited. We present a new method for measuring tibial torsion using conventional radiographs. We compared the method with several clinical methods and with CT measurement in 44 lower extremities of 25 subjects. The radiographic method agreed well with all of the clinical methods, and this agreement was better than agreement between CT and clinical examination. The best agreement was between thigh-foot angle and the radiographic method. The proposed radiographic measurement is a practical method for evaluation of tibial torsion in outpatient clinics without the need for specialized equipment. Level of Evidence: Level II, diagnostic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.