Morphometric analysis of patella and patellar ligament: a cadaveric study to aid patellar tendon grafts

PURPOSE: Morphometric analysis of the patella and the patellar ligament is crucial in diagnosing and surgical corrections of knee injuries and patellofemoral joint disorders. Dimensions of the patella and the patellar ligament are frequently used in implant design and ACL reconstruction. This study aims to obtain detailed morphometric data on the patellar ligament and its localization based on gross anatomical dissections in the adult cadavers.

METHODS: The present study consisted of 50 lower limbs from formalin-fixed male adult cadavers aged about 70 years (45-85) belonging to the South Indian population. Total length of the quadriceps tendon, patellar height, patellar ligament height, proximal width, distal width and thickness of the patellar ligament were measured meticulously. Mean, standard deviation, median scores of each parameter were computed for groups using SPSS 16.0. Level of significance was considered as p