Medial trochlear facet
Facies articularis medialis trochleae
Definition
The trochlea of femur is divided into medial and lateral facets by the trochlear groove.
The medial trochlear facet is generally smaller and less prominent compared to the lateral facet. It is characterized by its relatively flat surface proximally and becomes more prominent distally.[1] The medial facet contributes to the overall stability of the patella, particularly in the early stages of knee flexion.
In terms of specific measurements, the medial facet typically contributes about 37.4% to the total cartilage length of the trochlea, with the lateral facet contributing the remaining 62.6%.[2] The depth and shape of the trochlear groove, including the medial facet, are essential in maintaining proper patellar tracking and preventing patellofemoral instability.
References
1.The Trochlear Sulcus of the Native Knee Is Consistently Orientated Close to the Sagittal Plane Despite Variation in Distal Condylar Anatomy.Borukhov I, Esposito CI, Ismailidis P, et al.Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy : Official Journal of the ESSKA. 2023;31(9):3618-3626. doi:10.1007/s00167-021-06667-9.
2.Landmarks of the Normal Adult Human Trochlea Based on Axial MRI Measurements: A Cross-Sectional Study.Hasler RM, Gal I, Biedert RM.Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy : Official Journal of the ESSKA. 2014;22(10):2372-6. doi:10.1007/s00167-014-3152-9.
3.Morphological Classification of the Femoral Trochlear Groove Based on a Quantitative Measurement of Computed Tomographic Models.Chen S, Du Z, Yan M, Yue B, Wang Y.Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy : Official Journal of the ESSKA. 2017;25(10):3163-3170. doi:10.1007/s00167-016-4236-5.
