Anatomical morphometry of the tibial plateau in South Indian population

The objectives were to study the morphometry of lateral and medial tibial plateau in South Indian population. The study was performed using 73 dry cadaveric tibiae which were obtained from the gross anatomy laboratory of our institution. The antero-posterior length and mediolateral breadth of the lateral and medial tibial condyles were measured. The data of the medial and lateral compartments, right and left sided tibiae were statistically analyzed and compared. The mean length and breadth of medial tibial plateau (± standard deviation) were 39.8 ± 3.8 mm and 26.7 ± 2.8 mm respectively. The same parameters for the lateral tibial plateau were 33.6 ± 3.7 mm and 26.1 ± 2.9 mm. For both length and breadth the dimensions were statistically lower for the lateral tibial condyle than the medial (p<0.05). Differences were not statistically significant between right and left sides except for the length of lateral tibial plateau, which was longer on the right side (p<0.05). The present study observed differences in the morphometric parameters between the lateral and medial tibial condyles and has provided additional information on the morphometric data of the tibial plateau which is important to the orthopedic surgeons.