Dimensions of the intercondylar notch of the knee

This study evaluates the three-dimensional contour of the intercondylar notch of the knee along its entire length. Forty-one distal femora, from human cadavers with a mean age of 45 years (range: 23 to 70 years) at the time of death were studied. The specimens were selected for the absence of previous surgery or degenerative changes including osteophyte formation. Measurements were taken from a cast of the distal femur. Transverse sections of the cast were cut every 3 mm in a plane perpendicular to the long axis of the femur. Within this plane, the epicondylar width, the condylar height, the notch height, and the minimum and maximum width of the notch were measured. The ratios between these measurements were calculated and subjected to analysis of variance. The notch width increased gradually from a mean of 1.8 cm at the distal aspect to a mean of 2.3 cm at the most proximal portion. The notch height increased from a mean value of 1.8 cm at the distal-most portion to a maximum of 2.4 cm at 1.8 cm from the distal-most portion of the notch. The height then decreased to a mean value of 1.3 cm at the most proximal portion of the notch. The epicondylar width:notch width ratio ranged from 4.70 distally to 4.25 proximally. These results indicate that the notch is narrowest distally and widens proximally, and the notch height is greatest in the midportion and decreases proximally and distally.