Bilateral Variability of Quadriceps Angle and Impact of Height on it in Female Population of Uttarakhand

Background: The quadriceps angle (Q angle), an indicator of knee dysfunction, is formed by the line connecting the anterior superior iliac spine to the center of the patella and the line connecting the center of the patella to the tibial tuberosity. It is affected by the flexion and tonicity of the quadriceps femoris muscles. In females, the angle falls between 15 and 20°. The left and right legs are not always equal. Females tend to have a larger angle than men due to a broader pelvis. An increase in the angle is linked with instability of the patella and extensor dysfunction of the knee. Materials and methods: The study was conducted in the anatomy department of a tertiary care center over 5 years, involving 370 females residing in the hilly and plain regions of Uttarakhand. The females were in the age-group of 18–65 years. Samples were collected in the supine position with the help of a universal goniometer. Results: The Q angle was found to be higher in females from the plains compared to those from the hills. The mean value of the right Q angle was calculated as 12.02° in the hills and 13.27° in the plains. The mean value of the left Q angle was calculated as 11.49° in the hills and 12.62° in the plains. Conclusion: In the plains, height has a nonsignificant correlation with the Q angle and may not be a strong predictor in this population. The left and right Q angles are highly correlated with each other. Height shows a weaker correlation with angle measurements in the hills.