The authors suggest the use of software in digitalized radiographic images to morphometric analysis of the intercondylar notch and the femoral condyles. The software allows the draw of guide lines which facilitate the measurement of the distal extremity of femur. Thirty-nine radiographic simple has been analyzed of femoral intercondylar notch of right and left knees, of male sex individuals collected into normal (n=23) and injured (n=16) groups. The age average was 26-56 years old.The analyzed variable had been femoral bicondylar width, widths of intercondylar notch to the level of the popliteal groove and the notch base, intercondylar notch height and the width of lateral femoral condyle. The intercondylar notch was classified according to its shape into conical , circular and rectangular. The results suggest that the base width of the notch and the width of the femoral condyle would be important risk factors of the injury of A.C.L. The average range of analyzed variables are near to the ones described in the specialized literature in direct measurements in corpse pieces and magnetic resonance imaging and demonstrate that the use of a software in digitalized radiographic images provides a realiable measurement, even if simple and low cost radiographic images are used.
Femoral intercondylar notch; Anterior cruciat ligament; Morphology; Knee
