TY - JOUR
T1 - The female knee
T2 - Anatomic variations and the female-specific total knee design
AU - Merchant, Alan C.
AU - Arendt, Elizabeth A.
AU - Dye, Scott F.
AU - Fredericson, Michael
AU - Grelsamer, Ronald P.
AU - Leadbetter, Wayne B.
AU - Post, William R.
AU - Teitge, Robert A.
PY - 2008/12
Y1 - 2008/12
N2 - The concept and need for a gender-specific or female-specific total knee prosthesis have generated interest and discussion in the orthopaedic community and the general public. This concept relies on the assumption of a need for such a design and the opinion that there are major anatomic differences between male and female knees. Most of the information regarding this subject has been disseminated through print and Internet advertisements, and through direct-to-patient television and magazine promotions. These sources and a recent article in a peer-reviewed journal, which support the need for a female-specific implant design, have proposed three gender-based anatomic differences: (1) an increased Q angle, (2) less prominence of the anterior medial and anterior lateral femoral condyles, and (3) reduced medial-lateral to anterior-posterior femoral condylar aspect ratio. We examined the peer-reviewed literature to determine whether women have had worse results than men after traditional TKAs. We found women have equal or better results than men. In addition, we reviewed the evidence presented to support these three anatomic differences. We conclude the first two proposed differences do not exist, and the third is so small that it likely has no clinical effect. Level of Evidence: Level IV, systematic review. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
AB - The concept and need for a gender-specific or female-specific total knee prosthesis have generated interest and discussion in the orthopaedic community and the general public. This concept relies on the assumption of a need for such a design and the opinion that there are major anatomic differences between male and female knees. Most of the information regarding this subject has been disseminated through print and Internet advertisements, and through direct-to-patient television and magazine promotions. These sources and a recent article in a peer-reviewed journal, which support the need for a female-specific implant design, have proposed three gender-based anatomic differences: (1) an increased Q angle, (2) less prominence of the anterior medial and anterior lateral femoral condyles, and (3) reduced medial-lateral to anterior-posterior femoral condylar aspect ratio. We examined the peer-reviewed literature to determine whether women have had worse results than men after traditional TKAs. We found women have equal or better results than men. In addition, we reviewed the evidence presented to support these three anatomic differences. We conclude the first two proposed differences do not exist, and the third is so small that it likely has no clinical effect. Level of Evidence: Level IV, systematic review. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
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U2 - 10.1007/s11999-008-0536-5
DO - 10.1007/s11999-008-0536-5
M3 - Review article
C2 - 18820981
AN - SCOPUS:58149306015
SN - 0009-921X
VL - 466
SP - 3059
EP - 3065
JO - Clinical orthopaedics and related research
JF - Clinical orthopaedics and related research
IS - 12
ER -