Femoral neck angles in osteoarthritis of the hip

Femoral neck angles were determined in 44 patients with unilateral or bilateral idiopathic osteoarthritis of the hip. The mean anteversion angle was 20 degrees +/- 9 degrees and the neck-shaft angle 131 degrees +/- 7 degrees. In comparison with a normal material the anteversion was significantly larger in the patients (P less than 0.001), but no difference was found in the neck-shaft angle. A positive correlation between the size of the anteversion and the severity of the disease was observed. It is concluded that increased anteversion of the femoral neck may contribute to the development of osteoarthritis of the hip.