Measurment of Posterior Tibial Slope: A Cross- Sectional Study in Tehran

Posterior tibial slope is the normal anteroposterior inclination of the tibia slope and plays an important role in the biomechanics of the knee and function of the cruciate ligaments. Posterior tibial slope angle varies in different populations and there is no report about its measurement in the Iranian population. The aim of this study was to investigate the normal posterior tibial slope in a teaching hospital in Tehran-Iran.

In a desreptive study 108 knees in 70 men and 38 female patients with no history of prior knee problem were evaluated by lateral knee rodiographs in a teaching hospital in Tehran-Iran. The average age in these cases was 38 years (23-60 years). These patients had refered because of recent knee trauma but no fracture or intra-articular derangement had been found. The angle of tibial slope was measured in all the cases and analyzed.

The mean slope angle was 9.4±1.8 degrees. There was no statistical relationship between age and gender and posterior tibial slope (p≥.05).

The normal posterior tibial slope angle in this Iranian population was different from other countries. It may be necessary to consider these differences in designing tibial and femoral components for knee arthroplasty.