A cross-sectional study of femoral neck shaft angle & femoral neck length on dry bones in eastern Uttar Pradesh region

Full text

~ 522 ~
The Pharma Innovation Journal 2019; 8(4): 522-524
ISSN (E): 2277- 7695
ISSN (P): 2349-8242
NAAS Rating: 5.03
TPI 2019; 8(4): 522-524
© 2019 TPI
www.thepharmajournal.com
Received: 06-02-2019
Accepted: 10-03-2019
Amit Kumar Nayak
Department of Anatomy, IMS,
BHU, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh,
India
Kapil Malviya
Department of Anatomy, IMS,
BHU, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh,
India
Anand Mishra
Department of Anatomy, IMS,
BHU, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh,
India
Mayank Gupta
Department of Forensic
Medicine, IMS, BHU, Varanasi,
Uttar Pradesh, India
Chhandamayee Mohanty
Department of Anatomy, IMS,
BHU, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh,
India
Correspondence
Amit Kumar Nayak
Department of Anatomy, IMS,
BHU, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh,
India
A cross-sectional study of femoral neck shaft angle &
femoral neck length on dry bones in eastern Uttar
Pradesh region
Amit Kumar Nayak, Kapil Malviya, Anand Mishra, Mayank Gupta and
Chhandamayee Mohanty
Abstract
Introduction: Femur is the longest and strongest bone of the human body &has a very important role in
mechanism of weight bearing and locomotion. The upper end has a head, which is connected to shaft by
neck. The neck shaft angle is the angle between the long axis of femoral shaft & axis of the femoral neck.
A detailed study on the neck-shaft angle, the femoral neck length and the relation between them is
essential for clinical procedures in the hip region.
Material & Method: 90 intact dry femur without any deformity were studied. Femoral neck length was
measured using a slide caliper. This angle was measured with help of goniometer. Data was charted and
statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 16.0.
Result: The overall mean NL was found to be 2.93± 0.12cm (right side was 3.02±0.07cm &left side was
2.85± 0.09cm). The mean NL of the right side was more as compared to left side, the difference was not
significant. The overall mean NSA was found to be 129.00•± 1.54(right side was 129.87•±1.42, left side
was 128.13•±1.09). The NSA of right side was greater than the NSA on left side but the difference was
not significant. The correlation between the NL&NSA was found to be significant.
Conclusion: There is significant positive correlation between the femur NL and NSA of the
corresponding bone. This study will be helpful while performing various clinical procedures in this
region.
Keywords: Femur, neck length, neck shaft angle
Introduction
Femur, the longest and strongest bone of the human body has a very important role in
mechanism of weight bearing and locomotion. Femur consists of upper end, lower end and
shaft. The upper end has a head, which is connected to shaft by neck. Femoral neck is
approximately 5cm long [1].
Neck is narrowest in its mid part & widest laterally. Neck provides a lever for action of
muscles around hip joint. The neck shaft angle (NSA) is the angle between the long axis of
femoral shaft & axis of the femoral neck (figure 1). This angle ranges between 125• to 140• [2].
Elongated neck and neck-shaft angle (NSA) allows the lower limb toswing clearly away from
the pelvis and increases the range of movement at the hip joint [3].
Variations in this neck-shaft angle (NSA) and femoral neck length (NL) have been widely
documented in various research papers and textbooks. Normally, neck shaft angle (NSA) is
widest at birth & diminishes gradually until adolescence1. Neck- shaft angle (NSA) is smaller
in case of female [1].
The variations also depend on various other parameters like climatic condition, clothing,
lifestyle, sex & side of the bone [4]. The neck shaft angle is increased in congenital subluxation
and dislocation of the hip, poliomyelitis, cerebral palsy and idiopathic scoliosis. The neck shaft
angle is decreased in congenitalcoxavara, perthe’s disease, softening of the neck due to rickets
and delayed formation of the diaphyseal spur [3]. Various other causative factors like metabolic
diseases, osteoporosis and genetic influence have also been documented [1].
A detailed study on the neck-shaft angle (NSA), the femoral neck length (NL) and the relation
between them is essential for clinical procedures in the hip region.

~ 523 ~
The Pharma Innovation Journal
Material and Method
The present study was conducted in the department of
Anatomy, Institute Of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu
University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. 90 intact dry femur
(45 right side femur and 45 left femur) without any deformity
were collected from the department and were numbered. Age
and sex were not known. Femoral neck length (NL) was
measured using a slide caliper.
For measuring NSA, axis of the shaft and axis of the neck
were taken. The axis of the neck was obtained by a line
through the midpoint of narrowest part. Axis of the shaft was
obtained by a line through the narrowest part of the shaft. The
NSA was the angle formed between the axis of shaft and axis
of the neck. This angle was measured with help of
goniometer.
Data was charted and statistical analysis was done using SPSS
version 16.0
Fig 1: showing neck shaft angle of femur1
Result
Neck length
The overall mean NL was found to be 2.93± 0.12cm. The
mean NL of right side was found to be 3.02±0.07cm & the
mean NL of left side was found to be 2.85± 0.09cm. Although
the mean NL of the right side was more as compared to left
side, the difference was not significant (P value > 0.01).
Neck shaft angle
The overall mean NSA was found to be 129.00± 1.54. The
mean NSA on right side was observed to be 129.87±1.42
&mean NSA on left side was found to be 128.13±1.09.
Similar to NL, the NSA of right side was greater than the
NSA on left side but the difference was not significant (P
value > 0.01)
The correlation between the NL& NSA was found to be
significant at p value 0.01.
Table 1: Depicting the mean, SD and correlation between femur
neck-length and neck-shaft of the corresponding bone
Mean
(N=90)
Standard
Deviation
r
(significance)
Femur neck-length (NL)
2.93cm
0.12
0.821**
Neck-shaft angle of the
corresponding bone (NSA)
129.00•
1.54
** Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level
Table 2: Depicting the mean, SD and t value for right and left femur
neck length and neck-shaft angle
Mean
(Standard
Deviation)
t (df = 88)
Neck-length
Right femur bone
3.02cm (0.07)
9.936
Left femur bone
2.85cm (0.09)
Neck-shaft
angle
Right femur bone
129.87• (1.42)
6.463
Left femur bone
128.13• (1.09)
Discussion
There is abundance of studies on femoral NL& femoral NSA,
but any substantial data related to eastern part of uttar-Pradesh
was missing. As the NSA & NL varies from region to region
& is dependent on various parameters like climate, clothing,
lifestyle, sex, age & side it was necessary to have the
parameters in particular region for clinical use [4]. Our study
was carried out to note the following points:
1. Observe the femoral NL of each side & to look for any
significant difference between the two sides.
2. Observe the NSA of each side & to look for any
significant difference between the two sides.
3. To observe any relationship between femoral NL&
femoral NSA.
Neck length
The values obtained in our study were similar to that found by
Rakeshadhikari et al. (2.93± 0.24cm) [5] in Nepal. Our data
was slightly higher than that observed by Smriti et al. (2.91cm
rt& 2.93cm left) [6] in Jharkhand region.
Although our findings were less as compared to studies in
south Indian population (3.63cm) [7] &western Indian region
(3.44cm) [8].
Neck shaft angle
Our data was less than that observed by Shakil Mohamad
Khan et al. (137.1•) [7] in south Indian population &
subashgujar (136.3•) [8] in western Indian region, but was more
than observed by Khaleel N. et al. (125.3•± 6.5)9in south
Indian population.
Conclusion
The overall mean femoral NL was 2.93cm± 0.12. The mean
NL of right side (3.02cm± 0.07) was higher than the mean NL
of left side (2.85cm ± 0.09). The difference was not
significant (p value > 0.01).Mean NSA was found to be 129.0•
± 1.54. NSA of right side (129.87• (1.42)) was higher than
that of left side (128.13• (1.09)). The difference was not
significant. There is significant positive correlation between
the femur NL (Mean = 2.93, SD = 0.12) and NSA of the
corresponding bone. Variations between different age groups
& sex couldn’t be established as age & sex of the dry bone
was not known. This study will be helpful to orthopedists,
radiologists & prosthetists while performing various clinical
procedures in this region.
References:
1. Standring S. Gray’s Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of
Clinical Practice, 39th, Churchill Livingstone, spain,
2008, 1431.
2. Veeramani R, Holla SJ, Chand P et al. Gray’s Anatomy
for students – South Asia edition, 1st, Elsevier,
Navimumbai, 2017, 607-610.
3. DattaA K. Essentials OfHuman Anatomy (part – iii,

~ 524 ~
The Pharma Innovation Journal
superior and inferior extremities), 4th, Current Books
International, Kolkata, 2015, 138-145, 230-231.
4. Gilligan I, Chandraphak S, Mahakkanukrauh P. Femoral
neck-shaft angle in humans: variation relating to climate,
clothing, lifestyle, sex, age and side. Journal of Anatomy
2013; 223:133-151.
5. Adhikari RK, Yadav B, Yadav SK et al. Comparative
study of angle of inclination and neck length of dry
femur. Journal of Nobel Medical College. 2017;
6(10):44-47.
6. Jha S, Prasad R, Dubey AK, Thakur N. Study of Right
and Left Asymmetry in Neck Shaft Angle and Neck
Length of Femur in Jharkhand Population. Journal of
Dental and Medical Sciences. 2016; 15(9):19-21.
7. Khan SM, Saheb SH. Study on Neck Shaft Angle and
Femoral Length of South Indian Femurs. International
Journal of Anatomy and Research. 2014; 2(4):633-635.
8. Gujar S, Vikani S, Parmar J, Bondre KV. A Correlation
between femoral neck shaft angle to femoral neck length.
International Journal of Biomedical and Advance
Research. 2013, 4(05).
9. Khaleel N, Shaik HS. Osteometric study of human femur.
International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences.
2014; 2(1):104-107.