Femur morphology in healthy infants and young children

Authors

Nathan P. Brown, Department of Bioengineering, J.B. Speed School of Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Angela Thompson, Department of Engineering Fundamentals, J.B. Speed School of Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Karen Bertocci, Department of Bioengineering, J.B. Speed School of Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Natalie L. Adolphi, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Lauren Dvorscak, Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Mary Clyde Pierce, Division of Emergency Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago IL and Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Gina Bertocci, Department of Bioengineering, J.B. Speed School of Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1-2022

Abstract

The objective of this study was to characterize femur morphology in healthy infants and young children. Anterior-posterior (AP) radiographs of the femur from children age 0-3 years with no history of bone disease were obtained from two children's hospitals and one medical examiner's office. Femur morphological measures (bone length, minimum diaphysis diameter, growth plate width, and femur radius of curvature) and sectional structural measures were determined. Measures were described and compared based on subject age and mass. Relationships between measures and age and mass were evaluated. The 169 AP femur radiographs were obtained from 99 children (59.6% males, median age = 12.0 months, IQR = 0-27.5 months, median body weight = 10.0 kg, IQR = 4.4-15.6 kg). Femur length (r_s = 0.97, p < 0.001; r_s = 0.89, p < 0.001), trochanter width (r_s = 0.86, p < 0.001; r_s = 0.85, p < 0.001), minimum diaphysis diameter (r_s = 0.91, p < 0.001; r_s = 0.87, p < 0.001), and growth plate width (r_s = 0.91, p < 0.001; r_s = 0.84, p < 0.001) increased with age and weight, respectively. Cross-sectional area (rs = 0.87; r_s = 0.86; p < 0.01), polar moment of inertia (r_s = 0.91; r_s = 0.87; p < 0.001), moment of inertia (r_s = 0.91; r_s = 0.87; p < 0.001), polar modulus (r_s = 0.91; r_s = 0.87; p < 0.001) and medullary canal diameter (r_s = 0.83, p < 0.001; r_s = 0.73, p < 0.001) at the minimum diaphysis also increased with age and weight, respectively. Changes during rapid bone growth are important to understanding fracture risk in infants and young children as they transition to independent walking. Femur length, trochanter width, minimum diaphysis diameter and growth plate width increased with age and weight. Structural properties associated with fracture resistance also increased with age and weight.

Recommended Citation

Bertocci G, Brown NP, Thompson A, Bertocci K, Adolphi NL, Dvorscak L, Pierce MC. Femur morphology in healthy infants and young children. Clin Anat. 2022 Apr;35(3):305-315. doi: 10.1002/ca.23825. Epub 2021 Dec 22. PMID: 34881441.