A Prospective Observational Study of Proximal Femoral Anthropometry in the South Indian Population

Abstract Background: Understanding proximal femoral morphology is crucial for optimal implant design and surgical outcomes. Population-specific variations in femoral anatomy necessitate ethnic specific anthropometric data for Indian patients. This study was done to determine proximal femur morphology in the South Indian population, assess gender differences, and evaluate height-based variations in anthropometric parameters. Methodology: A prospective analytical study was conducted on 174 subjects (36 males, 138 females) aged 24–80 years at a tertiary care hospital. Standardized pelvic radiographs were analyzed using Radiant Dicom Viewer. The key parameters measured included horizontal offset, neck shaft angle, endosteal canal diameters at three reference levels, and the length of the femur above the central axis of the neck. Results: The mean horizontal offset in the South Indian population was 40.9 ± 6.0 mm, with significant gender differences (males: 44.9 ± 6.0 mm vs. females: 39.9 ± 5.5 mm, P < 0.001). Mean neck shaft angle was 125.5° ± 6.21°. The measured endosteal diameters were 31.9 ± 5.0 mm at 20 mm above the lesser trochanter (LT), 21.4 ± 3.6 mm at the level of the LT, and 17.0 ± 2.9 mm at 20 mm below it. The mean length of the femur proximal to the axis of the neck was 38.2 ± 4.4 mm. Males showed significantly larger dimensions in most parameters except neck shaft angle. Height-based analysis revealed significant correlations with horizontal offset and femoral length parameters. Conclusions: The South Indian proximal femoral morphology shows distinct characteristics compared to Western populations, with significant gender and height-based variations. These findings have important implications for implant design and selection in this population.