A new semi-automated measurement technique based on X-ray pictures for ankle morphometry

Knowledge of human joint morphology is important in orthopaedic surgery and in prosthesis design. The literature on quantitative morphological analysis of the ankle joint is particularly scarce. A semi-automated radiographic measurement method was developed to collect morphological measures of the ankle joint. The method was based on standard lateral and antero-posterior X-ray pictures of the ankle joint. These were then scanned and analysed by means of specialized software designed for the purpose, which requires minimal operator contribution. Accuracy of the method was experimentally assessed by in vitro direct measurements. Intra- and inter-operator variability was also tested. Accuracy was assessed to be within 1 mm for most measurements. Repeatability was not affected by operator skill and was within 2 mm. The newly proposed method was applied successfully on 15 male adult subjects and relevant results are reported. The method allows ankle morphology to be analysed in a large number of subjects providing reliable data for anthropometric statistics.