The Relationship Between Linear Osteological and Radiographic Measurements of the Human Calcaneus and Talus

Abstract

Plain radiographs of the foot are a common form of examination in individuals when medical evaluation is indicated. Their availability makes them useful for studying human variation where large sample sizes are crucial. Calcaneal and talar morphology are critical in the understanding of human foot form and function, but few studies have examined the accuracy of linear measurements of these bones taken from radiographs. If linear measurements are to be used in quantitative analysis, their accuracy must first be demonstrated. For this study, 54 human feet from amputated limbs were imaged in standard radiographic views and skeletonized. Selected linear measurements were made on each skeletonized talus and calcaneus. Corresponding landmarks were identified on the radiographic images and the distances between these points determined. Using the measurements taken from the physical bone, the accuracy of the radiographic measurements was evaluated employing paired Student's t-tests and correlation analysis. Most measurements were not significantly different (P ≥ 0.05). Overall, the sagittal plane measurements were correlated (r2 > 0.61–0.88, all P < 0.001) with the radiographic measurements; transverse plane measurements less so (r2 = 0.20–0.63, P < 0.001). These results demonstrate that measurements from radiographic images provide useful information concerning both the calcaneus and talus, indicating that radiographs of living individuals can be evaluated quantitatively and compared to osteology collections of modern humans. This information can be applied to the understanding of functional anatomy of the modern human foot, interpreting the hominin fossil pedal record, and establishing identification in forensic analysis. Anat Rec, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Anat Rec, 301:21–33, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.