Collo-diaphysial angle of the femur in East African subjects

Abstract

The collo-diaphysial angle of East African subjects was investigated using 860 unilateral anteroposterior radiographs of the hip from 400 Ugandan and 460 Kenyan subjects, aged between 18 and 65 years using the standard techniques of Singh and Singh (1975). The angle ranged from 125-144° with a mean of 133.3° and a standard deviation (SD) of 5.3° for Ugandan males; and 119-139°, mean 123.4°, SD 5.8° for Ugandan females. The Kenyan values were 125-159°, mean 140.2°, SD 6.2° for males; and 117-134°, mean 125.7°, SD 5.1° for females, respectively. There were significant differences between males and females in both groups as well as between Ugandan and Kenyan males (P < 0.05). Using the demarking points method, only 19.0% of male Ugandans, 41.7% of male Kenyans, and 18.2% of female Kenyans could be identified by gender. This study documents for the first time the collo-diaphysial angle of East African subjects and has further confirmed that the angle is wider in men than women. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.